Chandigarh, Oct. 15 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court has sought a response from the Punjab government on a plea challenging the state's purported move to transfer 10 market committees to the Punjab Mandi Board.

The PIL filed by Ranjit Singh Bath questions whether the mandi board had the authority to float and award tenders before the formal transfer of the committees. It further alleges that tenders were floated in July 2026 and awarded in August, with a sanction issued on September 2, while the transfer order was issued on September 16/21. It also alleges irregularities in the transfer of these market committees from the public works department (PWD) to the board and subsequent work of tendering road works in those areas.

According...