Punjab becomes the first State to reject Farm Acts

Punjab becomes the first State to reject Farm Acts

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Policies and interventions; Federalism

In news

• Recently, Punjab became the first State  to reject the Central government’s three Farm Acts. 
• It also passed three Bills to negate the Union laws.
• It also rejected the proposed Electricity Amendment Bill and demanded their immediate annulment.

Key takeaways 

Three farm Bills introduced by the Punjab assembly

• The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020: (1) Seeks to ensure that sale or purchase of wheat or paddy in Punjab is not allowed below the Minimum Support Price (MSP); (2) Seeks to provide for punishment for harassment of farmers or payment of less price to the farmers.
• The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment Bill, 2020: (1) It provides for imprisonment of not less than three years and fines for sale-purchase of wheat or paddy under a farming agreement below the MSP.
• The Essential Commodities (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020: (1) It prevents hoarding and black-marketing of agricultural produce; (2) Seeks to ensure status quo ante with regard to implementation of ‘The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020’.
• The Punjab bills have reintroduced market fees or licences for private players outside the APMCs which the central law had abolished .
• The Assembly also introduced Code of Civil Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020.
• It seeks to exempt agricultural land not exceeding 2.5 acres from Section 60 of The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, which provides for attachment of various properties. 
• It also seeks to exempt the Properties of the farmers such as cattle, implements, cowsheds, etc from attachment.