Haryana Enacts Comprehensive Law for Horticulture Nursery Registration and Regulation

The State of Haryana has introduced a significant legislative measure with the enactment of The Haryana Horticulture Nurseries Act, 2025 (Haryana Act No. 17 of 2025). This Act, which received the assent of the Governor of Haryana on April 7, 2025, and was subsequently published in the Official Gazette on April 28, 2025, establishes a new legal framework for the oversight of horticulture nurseries across the state. The legislation is designed to come into force on a date to be appointed by the Government through a notification in the Official Gazette.

The new Act mandates the registration and regulation of all horticulture nurseries operating within Haryana. Under its provisions, no owner of a horticulture nursery may conduct or carry on business after six months from the Act's commencement, or from the date they become an owner, without a licence obtained from the competent authority and in adherence to prescribed standards. A separate licence is required for each nursery, even if owned by the same person in the same or different districts. The competent authority, an officer not below the rank of Additional Director appointed by the Government, is responsible for granting and renewing these licences, which are valid for a period of five years. Applications for licences or renewals involve an inspection by an authorized officer, with provisions for a hearing if an application is refused.

The Act outlines clear grounds for the suspension or cancellation of a licence, including failure to comply with terms, contravention of provisions, or becoming insolvent. Notably, the competent authority or an authorized officer is empowered to destroy whole or part of any horticulture plant or plant material found to be of unknown pedigree or infected with pests and diseases, with the entire process documented through videography for transparency. Owners are also subject to specific duties, such as maintaining registers of records for inspection, displaying rates, keeping bill books, and ensuring nursery soil and plants are free from pests and diseases. For fruit plant owners, additional duties include using only approved varieties of scion and rootstock, maintaining complete records of origin, and ensuring each fruit plant intended for sale bears a conspicuous label or water-resistant QR code specifying its variety, age, source, and rootstock.

The legislation provided: “...to provide for the registration and regulation of horticulture nurseries in the State of Haryana and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.” This core intent underscores the policy rationale behind the Act, which aims to establish a robust and standardized system for the horticulture sector. The Act addresses the need to ensure the quality and authenticity of horticulture plants and plant material, thereby protecting farmers and consumers from economic losses due to substandard or diseased stock. It seeks to fill statutory gaps by repealing The Haryana Fruit Nurseries Act, 1961, and replacing it with a more comprehensive framework that extends beyond just fruit plants to cover a wider array of horticulture plants, including vegetables, flowers, ornamental, medicinal, and aromatic crops.

The new law introduces stringent measures to prevent the spread of plant diseases and pests, a critical concern for agricultural productivity. It empowers the Government to regulate or prohibit horticulture plants of unknown pedigree or those affected by infectious diseases, including imported or exported materials, subject to specified restrictions. Enforcement mechanisms include powers of entry and inspection for the competent authority and inspecting officers, who can examine records and question personnel. Contravention of the Act or its rules can lead to imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to one lakh rupees, or both. Furthermore, the Act introduces a compensation mechanism where owners are liable to pay compensation for non-genuine horticulture plants, which can be up to twice the cost of cultivation for non-ornamental plants and double the purchase cost for ornamental plants. This provision aims to provide recourse for buyers who receive misrepresented or poor-quality plant material. The Act also clarifies that officers exercising powers under it are deemed public servants, and actions taken in good faith are protected from legal proceedings.

Keywords: Haryana Horticulture Nurseries Act, 2025, horticulture regulation, nursery licensing, plant quality, agricultural legislation, Haryana government, plant disease control, fruit plant regulation, plant material Geo Tags: India, Haryana District: Not Applicable