Haryana Assembly passes bills to amend 2 central farm laws, clears four others

The Haryana Assembly passed six bills during the budget session, including two important amendments to central agricultural laws—the Seeds Act, 1966, and the Insecticides Act, 1968. These amendments aim to stop the sale of fake and low-quality seeds and insecticides in the state.

Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana explained that the Seeds (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Insecticides (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduce strict punishments for those selling counterfeit agricultural products. These amendments will come into effect only after receiving the President’s approval.

The Seeds Act, 1966, was originally created to ensure high-quality seeds are sold to farmers. However, many seed sellers fail to meet the required standards, leading to financial losses for farmers. To address this, Haryana has added a new section (19-A) in the amendment to deal with violations of the Act.

Similarly, the Insecticides Act, 1968, was meant to regulate the manufacturing, sale, and use of insecticides to protect crops, human health, and the environment. However, fake and misbranded insecticides are widely sold, harming farmers' income and crop productivity. The Haryana government has now introduced stricter rules to stop this problem.

The amendments propose severe penalties for those selling fake seeds and insecticides. Under the new rules:

• Companies and responsible persons found guilty will face 1-2 years of imprisonment and fines between ₹1 lakh to ₹3 lakh.
• Repeat offenders will face 2-3 years of imprisonment and fines between ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh.
• Dealers or individuals caught selling fake products will be punished with 6 months to 1 year of imprisonment and fines from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh.
• The offences have been made cognizable and non-bailable to ensure strict enforcement.

The amendment to the Insecticides Act also increases penalties for violators:

• First-time offenders will face 6 months to 2 years of imprisonment and fines between ₹1 lakh to ₹3 lakh.
• Repeat offenders will face 1-3 years of imprisonment and fines from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh.

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Other bills passed in the Assembly

Apart from the agricultural laws, four more bills were passed in the Haryana Assembly:

1. Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2025

   • This amendment improves accountability in rural governance.
   • It ensures that people facing inquiries get a fair hearing and that inquiries are completed on time.
   • It also gives more time for individuals to respond to notices about misusing village funds.

2. Sports University of Haryana (Amendment) Bill, 2025

   • The Haryana government set up the Sports University of Haryana in Rai, Sonepat, in the 2023-24 academic year.
   • The original law allowed the university to open campuses in other states, which was against UGC regulations.
   • The amendment limits the university’s jurisdiction to Haryana and ensures it follows UGC rules.

3. Haryana Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2025

   • The Assembly also passed an amendment to the Haryana Land Revenue Act, but details were not provided.

4. Haryana Appropriation (Number 1) Bill, 2025

   • This bill allows the government to withdraw money from the state’s consolidated fund.
   • The money will be used for additional expenses approved by the Assembly for 2024-25.

Additionally, the state government has appointed block agriculture officers, insecticide and fertilizer inspectors, and assistant plant protection officers to ensure better regulation. These steps aim to protect farmers and strengthen agricultural policies in Haryana.