High Court clears Bhagwant Mann's France visit after Centre's refusal

The Punjab and Haryana High Court allowed Bhagwant Mann to visit France. The ruling overturns the Centre's refusal amid a dispute over clearances.Stock photo used for illustrationChandigarh,Oct 16, 2026 22:18 ISTThe Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday allowed Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to visit France, accepting the state government's plea against the Centre's decision to deny political clearance for the trip, news agency Press Trust of India reported.Mann was scheduled to lead a delegation to France from October 15 to 21 to attend SIAL Paris 2026, an international food trade exhibition being held from October 17 to 21. The Punjab government had described the Centre's decision as arbitrary and sought its cancellation.Punjab Additional Advocate General Ferry Sofat, one of the lawyers who appeared for the state government, told PTI that Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya allowed the plea after hearing the matter. He said a detailed order was awaited.According to Sofat, the Centre told the court that it had denied permission on two grounds: security concerns and the absence of an invitation for the chief minister. “We submitted before the court that when we applied seeking permission from the Centre, the invitation was attached. On the security issue, we told the court that we had applied well in time and the Centre cannot take this ground,” he said.The chief minister was to lead a delegation that would also include Punjab's chief secretary and the principal secretary to the chief minister. In its 56-page petition, the Punjab government said the proposed visit was linked to the participation of the Punjab State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd, or Markfed, in SIAL Paris 2026.The petition said Markfed had been allotted a stall under the APEDA India Pavilion by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, a body under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.It also said the Indian Mission in France had been consulted, administrative approval and cadre clearance had been granted, and Markfed would bear the entire cost of the visit.Speaking to reporters in Phillaur, Mann thanked the high court for allowing him to travel. He criticised the Centre and questioned why he had to approach the court for permission.“The High Court has granted me permission to go... But why should we have to obtain permission from the High Court for this? Do we now have to approach the court for everything?” he said.“The Prime Minister can travel across the entire world. He goes to China, Malaysia and wherever else he wants to go. But when I want to go somewhere for Punjab's work, to bring investment to the state, or to participate in a food festival where Markfed will set up a stall, we are denied permission. We are going there to promote Punjab's interests, not to hold a political rally,” Mann said.He also questioned the denial of permission for his proposed visit to Japan the previous month for hockey events at the Asian Games.“They grant permission to our officers, but Bhagwant Mann cannot go. Are they so afraid of me? I am not going there to hold a political rally. My purpose is to participate in engagements connected with Punjab's interests and promote the state,” he said.The high court's decision clears Mann's proposed France visit after the Punjab government challenged the Centre's refusal, arguing that the necessary invitation and approvals were already in place and that the trip was intended to promote the state's interests at the international food trade exhibition.- Ends