I\ IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE THIRTIETH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE TARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO WRIT PETITION NO: 2212 OF 2025 Between: M/s. Agrimax Company, Rep. by its Managing Partner, Palani Betappa, S/o. M. Betappa, aged 36 years, R/o. D.No. 3/26A, Near Lakshmi HP Ga^ Mittoor Village, Gudupalle Mandal, Chittoor District-517 420. Factory and Office at GF-15, No. 416 and 417, Fancy Distributor Plaza, Revenue Ward No. 31 Etukuru Road, Sangadigunta, Guntur-522 003, Andhra Pradesh State. ...Petitioner AND 1. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Co-operation Dept., Secretariat, Velagapudi Amaravati Guntur District. 2. The Commissioner and Director of Agriculture, State of Andhra Pradesh, Near Rythu Bazar, Chuttugunta, Guntur. ...Respondents Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is filed praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue a Writ Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the Respondent in interfering with manufacturing, sale and distribution of Bio products/Bio-Stimulants of petitioner-Firm, viz. Active Plus -80, Active Fert, Active Gold, App Plus, Active psil, AMC Active Zyme, Florika Endoff, Amixo, Agent-28, Jetride, Range, Sixer, Agri Bloom, Gibmxex, M-4, Bio Plus, Cam-G, Nutrifit Plus, Vam-Jet,Nutri Max, Grow Max, Black Gold, Max Gold and Soil Gold, by issuing Memo No. Humi Power, PP.11(1)2085/2005, dated 21-01-2006 and Letter No. PP.II(1 )2085/2005, dated 21-01-2006 and in the absence of Notification prescribing standards and not included in Schedule-Vlas being illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional, respondent not |p interfere with in any manner in selling and distribution of Bio-products/Bio-Stimulants including from the licensed premises of the dealers/stockists under the Insecticides Act, 1968 and the Fertilizers Control (Order) Act, 1985. nd and direct the 2 lA NO: 1 OF 2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC is filed praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to direct the 2^"^ respondent not to interfere with manufacturing, sale and distribution of Bio-products / Bio-Stimulants of petitioner-Firm, viz.. Active Plus -80, Active Fert, Active Gold, App Plus, Active Osil, AMC Active Zyme, Florika, Endoff, Amixo, Agent- 28, Jetride, Range, Sixer, Agri Bloom, Gibmxex, M-4, Bio Plus, Cam-G, Nutrifit Plus, Vam-Jet, Nutri Max, Grow Max, Black Gold, Max Power, Humi Gold & Soil Gold, including from the licensed premises of the dealers, stockists, under the Insecticides Act, 1968 and the Fertilizers Control (order) Act, 1985, pending disposal of the above Writ petition. Counsel for the Petitioner: SMT B V APARNA LAKSHMI Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR AGRICULTURE The Court made the following order: % APHC010040992025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3330] THURSDAY,THE THIRTIETH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE TARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO WRIT PETITION NO: 2212/2025 Between: M/s. Agrimax Company, ...PETITIONER AND The State Of Andhra Pradesh and Others Counsel for the Petitioner: ...RESPONDENT{S) 1.B VAPARNA LAKSHMI Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1.GP FOR AGRICULTURE 2 The Court made the following order:- This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India for the following relief/s:- "...pleased to issue a Writ, Order or Direction, more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the 2'^'^ Respondent in interfering with manufacturing, sale and distribution of Bio-products/Bio-Stimulants of petitioner-Firm, viz.. Active Plus-80, Active Fert, Active Gold, App Plus, Active Osil, AMC Active Zyme, Florika, Endoff, Amixo, Agent-28, Jetride, Range, Sixer, Agri Bloom, Gibmxex, M-4, Bio Plus, Cam-G, Nutrifit Plus, Vam-Jet, Nutri Max, Grow Max, Black Gold, Max Power, Humi Gold and Soil Gold, by issuing Memo No.PP.il (1)2085/2005, dated 21-01-2006 No.PP.11(1)2085/2005, dated 21-01-2006 and in the absence of Notification prescribing standards and not included in Schedule-VI as being illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional, and direct the 2"^^ respondent not to interfere with in any manner in selling and distribution of Bio-products/Bio-Stimulants including from the licensed premises of the dealers/stockists under the Insecticides Act, 1968 and the Fertilizers Control (Order) Act, 1985 and pass such other order or orders....” Fleard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for and Letter I !l 2. the respondents. The learned counsel for petitioner submits that the subject matter of this Writ Petition is squarely covered by the common order 3. dated 05.08.2024 passed by this Court in W.P.Nos.16853 and 16916 of 2024. 3 did not refute the said learned counsel for the respondents 4. The submission. the aforesaid for the reasons alike in In view of the same order, this Court is terms of W.P.Nos.16853 and 5. is inclined to dispose of the writ petition in common 16916 of 2024, dated 05.08.2024. disposed of. There shall be no 6. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is order as to costs. Registry is directed to attach a copy 05.08.2024 passed in W.P.Nos sequel thereto, miscellaneous of the common order dated .16853 and 16916 of 2024 to this order. Petitions pending, if any, 7. As a shall stand closed. Sd/- B CHITTI JOSEPH ASSISTANT REGISTRAR f^SECTI^OFFICER //TRUE COPY// To, Smt B V Aparna Lakshmi, Advocate [OPUC] Agriculture, High Court of Andhra Pradesh [OUT] 3. OneCCto 4. Two CCs to GP for 5. Three CD Copies (Along with a copy of the common W.P. Nos. 16853 and 16916 of 2024) order dated 05.08.2024 passed in RAM HIGH COURT DATED:30/01/2025 ORDER = 0 6 MAR 2025 ^ Curreni aecuon ^ WP.No.2212 Of 2025 DISPOSING OF THE WP WITHOUT COSTS APHC010332502024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY ,THE FIFTH DAY OF AUGUST TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FOUR PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE TARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO WRIT PETITION No: 16853/2024 [3330] Between: M/s.RAK Agri Science ...PETITIONER AND ...RESPONDENT(S) The State Of Andhra Pradesh and Others Counsel for the Petitioner: 1.B VAPARNA LAKSHMI Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1.GPFOR AGRICULTURE WRIT PETITION No: 16916/2024 Between: M/s.Osiries Agros ...PETITIONER AND The State Of Andhra Pradesh and Others...RESPONDENT(S) Counsel for the Petitioner: 1.B VAPARNA LAKSHMI Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1.GP FOR AGRICULTURE 2 The Court made the following common order:- Since the subject matter involved in these Writ Petitions is one and the same, this Court deems it appropriate to dispose of these cases by way of this common order. 2. The grievance of the petitioners in these writ petitions is that the Government of India, while exercising the powers under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, amended the Fertilizer (inorganic, organic, mixed. Control Order) 1985 duly naming the above said substances as Bio Stimulants, and included in Fertilizers (Inorganic, Organic, Mixed) Control Order, 1985 vide S.O.No.882 (E), dated 23-02- 2021. As per the said order dated 23-02-2021, Standards have to be specified by the Central Bio-stimulants Committee including in Schedule-VI. So far standards have not been specified for bio stimulants and included in Schedule-VI. As the standards for Bio Stimulants are not specified by Central Bio Stimulants Committee and not included in Schedule-VI, therefore respondents are not entitled to interfere with sale and distribution of (Bio-products/Bio-Stimulants). 3. Further, contended that a notification was issued by the Government of India vide S.O.No.882 (E), dated 23-02-2021 allowing the manufactures/ distributors of Bio products/Bio-Stimulants to make an application for issuance of provisional registration of Bio- products/Bio-Stimulants as required under the above said order. inspite of that, the respondents are not receiving the applications filed 3 Form-G. As such, prayed to direct the respondents not to interfere in with the petitioners business. The learned counsel for the respondents have voiced/contended that the petitioners have not submitted any bio-efficacy trial reports and results pertaining to non-toxicity and that the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India has issued a Gazette notification vide SO No.882(E), dated 23.02.2021, under Fertilizer (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Amendment Order, 2021 duly including the Biostimulants in Schedule VI of Fertilizer (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985. The Division Bench of the combined High Court observed that the guidelines prescribed in the order under appeal would remain in force only till appropriate legislation - either plenary or subordinate - is made in that regard and pursuant to the said Division Bench order and to regulate the manufacturing and marketing of bio-products particularly with fake and bogus addresses and to prevent spurious products to the farmers the Government issued G.O.Ms.No.18, Agriculture & Cooperation (AGRI.III) Department, dated 10.03.2017 and sub-clause (4) of Clause 3 of the said SO No.882(E) reads as follows: 4. “(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this order, any person manufacturing a biostimulant as on the date of publication of this order for which no standards have been specified, may, subject to making an application for grant of provisional registration under sub-clause (5), continue to manufacture for sale, sell, offer for sale, stock or exhibit 4 such biostimulant for a period of two years from the date of publication of this order.” 5. The said time limits were extended vide SO No.2333, dated 14.06.2021, which reads as follows; “In exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955), the Central Government hereby makes the following order further to amend the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985, namely;- (i) This order may be called the Fertiliser Mixed) (Control) 1. (Inorganic, Organic or Amendment Order, 2021. (ii) It shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. 2. In the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985,- (i) In clause 20(c), in sub-clause (5), for the words “within a period of six months from the date of publication of this order”, the words, figure and letters “within 31 March, 2022” shall be substituted. (ii) In ‘Form G-3, for the words, figures and letters “up to....day of August, 2022”, the words, figures and letters “up to 22"^^ day of February, 2023” shall be substituted.” In view of the categorical extension of time limits in SO No.2333, dated 14.06.2021, the respondents are directed to follow the and the guidelines stipulated in SO No.882(E), dated 23.02.2021 and SO No.2333, dated 14.06.2021, while dealing with the 6. provisions products of the petitioners. 5 The petitioners are also directed to make an application, within a period of two (02) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order, to the Controller for grant of provisional registration Form G-1 along with (a) details of the product, its specifications, label and such other particulars as may be required; (b) certificate issued by the State Government in Form G-2 to that effect- (i) the product is available in the market prior to the publication of the said order; and (ii) no incident has come to its notice about the harmful effect of the product. 7. On receipt of such application by the respondents, process the application for grant of provisional registration, as per the procedure, law and legislation, the Controller by an order in writing grant a provisional certificate of registration of biostimulant in Form G-3, as expeditiously as possible, not later than four (04) weeks from the date of the application, in pursuant to the control order issued vide SO No.882(E), dated 23.02.2021. Meanwhile, respondents are directed to permit the petitioners to deal with the subject products. 8. 9. Accordingly, these Writ Petitions are disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous Petitions pending, if any. shall stand closed. JUSTICE TARLADA RAJASEKHARA RAO Date;05.08.2024 KBN