In Brief
Britannia Industries challenged whether the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing Act applied to sugar, edible oil, and vanaspati, contending they were manufactured rather than agricultural products. The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's finding that these items fall within the Act's definition of 'agricultural produce' as they are derived from listed agricultural sources and retain their essential characteristics despite processing. The Court confirmed that the Market Committee can levy fees only on sugar procured within its market area, and remitted the matter for the Committee to verify and consider the appellant's documents showing outside purchases.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.