The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday allowed the Punjab government's plea challenging the Centre's refusal to grant political clearance for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's proposed visit to France, clearing the way for the Chief Minister to travel to Paris for an international food trade exhibition.

Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya allowed the state's plea after hearing the rival submissions. A detailed order explaining the Court's reasons and the precise directions issued was awaited.

The Punjab government had approached the High Court after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denied political clearance for a delegation led by Mann, which was scheduled to visit France from October 15 to 21. The delegation also included Punjab Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Ravi Bhagat.

The proposed visit was intended to promote Punjab's agricultural and food-processing products in international markets through participation in SIAL Paris 2026, an international food trade exhibition scheduled from October 17 to 21.

The Centre opposed the visit, citing security concerns, including potential threats from Khalistani elements, and questioned the absence of a formal invitation from the French government.

The Punjab government, however, alleged that the clearance had been denied without reasons and accused the Centre of selectively treating foreign travel requests from opposition-ruled states.

Punjab challenged MEA's rejection of political clearance

In its petition, the Punjab government challenged the MEA's decision as arbitrary and alleged that the application had been rejected without assigning reasons or giving the state an opportunity to explain its position.

According to the state, the online e-Political Clearance portal merely displayed the status “DENIED”. The government contended that the decision was “non-speaking, arbitrary, without authority of law and violative of the federal structure of the Constitution”.

The state said it had initiated the clearance process well in advance. It wrote to the MEA on September 3 and September 8 and submitted an online application on September 9, seeking permission for the proposed visit.

The petition also stated that administrative approval and cadre clearance had been obtained and that the Indian mission in France had been consulted. The state argued that the proposed visit was connected with trade promotion and that the clearance process should not become a means of obstructing the elected government's executive functions.

Senior Advocate and Additional Advocate General Chanchal Singla represented the Punjab government.

Centre cites security threat, absence of formal invitation

Opposing the petition, Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain submitted an affidavit on behalf of the Centre and raised concerns about the security arrangements required for the visit.

The Centre said it would be difficult to ensure foolproof security at short notice, particularly given the size of the gathering expected at the international food trade exhibition. It also referred to information about a potential threat to Mann from Khalistani elements in India and abroad.

The Centre referred to a communication from the Punjab government itself flagging a threat to the Chief Minister, including a reference to Sikhs for Justice chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

The Centre maintained that the refusal was motivated by concerns for Mann's safety and that the potential threat to his life could not be ignored. It also questioned how the Indian embassy could facilitate the visit and coordinate the necessary protocol in the absence of a formal invitation from the French government.

The security concerns formed the principal basis of the Centre's opposition to the proposed trip.

Punjab says Markfed's participation was confirmed through APEDA

The state government countered that the visit was intended to advance Punjab's commercial interests rather than serve a political purpose.

The Punjab State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Limited (MARKFED), the state's apex cooperative marketing federation, had been allotted a stall at the India Pavilion of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

APEDA functions under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The state relied on the allotment to argue that the proposed participation was part of an established trade-promotion arrangement.

Punjab submitted that the delegation planned to showcase agricultural and processed food products, engage with international buyers and explore opportunities to expand exports. According to the petition, MARKFED was to bear the entire cost of the visit.

The state also argued that security arrangements could be coordinated with the French authorities and pointed to Mann's earlier foreign visits, including trips to Japan, South Korea and Australia, for which political clearance had been granted.

It alleged that the Centre was applying different standards to the foreign travel requests of Chief Ministers from opposition-governed states.