Rajesh Bindal, J.

1. This order will dispose of a bunch of writ petitions bearing CWP Nos. 3871, 14399, 16206, of 2000, 543, 10449 of 2001, 3659, 12882, 15111 of 2002, 11559, 11560, 11561, 11562, 14731, 18374 of 2003, 11738 to 11752, 16317, 16477 of 2004, 3915, 6225, 8277, 14131 of 2005, 8990 of 2006, 6184 of 2008, and 9429 of 2010, involving identical issue.

2. The common issue involved in the aforesaid writ petitions is challenge to the vires of Rule 29(7) of the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (General) Rules, 1962 (for short, 'the Rules'). Beside this, orders passed by the different authorities under the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961 (for short, 'the Act'), have also been impugned.

3. The facts in detail have been noticed from CWP No. 3871 of 2000.

4. The petitioner herein is engaged in the business of rice shelling. In the process of manufacturing rice, the petitioner purchase paddy from various mandis situated in the State of Punjab and also from outside the State. It is claimed that there is no dispute regarding payment of market fee on the paddy purchased from within the State of Punjab. The dispute arose with regard to the paddy purchased from the