Punjab: Petition to release funds for rural areas to be heard

Punjab: The Supreme Court on Wednesday assured the Punjab government that it will hear its plea seeking immediate release of over Rs 1,000 crore towards alleged arrears of market fee and rural development fee (RDF) from the Centre. Urging a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud to consider the matter, a lawyer representing the Punjab government said that the state’s interim application was listed for hearing on September 2 but could not be taken up due to paucity of time.

The lawyer requested the bench to issue notice to the Centre on the Punjab government’s plea to ensure that the reply comes on record before the matter is heard. “We will list the IA (interim application) for hearing,” the CJI said, without issuing notice to the Centre on the state’s plea. The Supreme Court had on August 30 said it will hear on September 2 the Punjab government’s plea seeking immediate release of over Rs 1,000 crore from the Centre towards alleged market fee and RDF dues. A bench headed by the Chief Justice, which could not hear the matter on August 12 due to paucity of time, had adjourned it for hearing on September 2 on a joint request by Attorney General R Venkataramani and Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh.

The state government had last year filed a suit in the apex court against the Centre for not reimbursing thousands of crores of rupees of statutory fee allegedly levied by the Centre during the procurement of foodgrains. In its original suit filed under Article 131 of the Constitution, Punjab had complained against the Centre for refusing to transfer back the statutory market fee and rural development fee levied by the state to the Centre.