In a rare federal-state skirmish affecting overseas mobility, the Punjab government filed an urgent petition in the Punjab & Haryana High Court on 15 October challenging the Ministry of External Affairs’ refusal to grant political clearance for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s trip to the SIAL Paris 2026 food fair. The state argues that the denial—issued via the MEA’s online Political Clearance Portal without stated reasons—violates principles of cooperative federalism and hampers Punjab-based exporters who had secured a stall under the APEDA India Pavilion. The delegation was scheduled to leave the same evening for a six-day programme aimed at attracting European investment in agro-processing and cold-chain logistics. Political clearance is mandatory for all state ministers’ foreign visits; refusals are rare and usually linked to overlapping diplomatic events or security concerns. Industry observers note that uncertainty in approval processes can deter sub-national trade promotion at a time when states are being urged to court FDI. Export councils fear lost business opportunities if the matter drags. Punjab contributes over 12 % of India’s processed-food exports and had hoped to showcase new plant-based proteins to French retailers. The court is expected to hear the plea on an urgent basis; a quick ruling could clarify the contours of political clearance for future state-led trade missions. Mobility advisers say companies should track the case, as clearance delays can cascade into visa glitches for accompanying officials, suppliers and journalists.
Source: The Print / PTI
