GURUGRAM: Farmers harvesting paddy in Gurugram district with a combine harvester can do so only between 9 am and 6 pm until 29 November. District Magistrate Uttam Singh has issued an order that bars combine harvesting from 6 pm to 9 am, along with rules on grain moisture, entry into mandis and parking of loaded vehicles, the Haryana government's information department said on 8 October.
The order has been issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and covers the kharif marketing season 2026-27. It has been in force since 1 October 2026 and stays effective until 29 November 2026. The stated aim is to keep paddy procurement smooth and orderly and to make it easier for farmers.
The reason for the time limit is moisture. According to the release, harvesting in the evening, at night and early in the morning, when there is dew and high humidity, can raise the moisture content of the grain. Paddy with too much moisture is harder to purchase, dry, store and handle, which is why the administration wants cutting to be confined to the daytime.
The permissible moisture limit for procurement is currently 17 per cent. Paddy brought to a purchase centre has to meet that standard. Farmers have been advised to harvest crop that is mature, in suitable weather and field conditions, and to dry the paddy properly before taking it to a purchase centre if needed.
Entry into mandis and purchase centres will follow a schedule, a token or gate pass system and the instructions of the department concerned. Tractor-trolleys and other vehicles carrying paddy have to follow it. Where holding or staging areas have been set up, vehicles that arrive before their time must wait there instead of going straight to the gate.
The order also bans parking in a way that blocks traffic. Vehicles must not be left on public roads, highways, link roads, emergency routes or at the entry and exit points of a mandi if that obstructs movement. The release does not name the mandis in Gurugram district where these rules apply.
Traffic, inspections and penalties
For traffic and crowd management around the purchase centres, the order says arrangements will be made with the DCP headquarters, the sub-divisional magistrates concerned, the market committee and other departments. Barricading, diversions and staging of vehicles will be arranged as needed. No specific diversion has been announced so far.
Joint inspection and enforcement teams may be formed or activated. The release lists the agriculture department, the food and supplies department, the market committee, the police and other authorised officers. These teams would check combine harvesters, see that the cutting hours are followed and monitor the arrival of paddy at the mandis to keep it orderly.
Anyone who wilfully disobeys the lawful directions in the order can face action under the law. The release mentions Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 where the circumstances apply, and says the competent authority may also act under environment, agriculture, motor vehicle, pollution control or other applicable laws.
A Section 163 order is the district magistrate's power to issue directions to prevent obstruction, annoyance or danger in a specific area for a limited time. The district authorities also used the same section this month for Haryana Board exam centres, with weapon bans and shop closures from 1 to 24 October. The paddy order is different in purpose, but it works the same way: it is a time-limited rule with penalties for those who break it.
For farmers, the practical points are simple. Plan combine cutting for daylight hours only, check the grain's moisture before loading, keep the token or gate pass ready and wait in the holding area if one is provided. Drivers of trolleys should not queue on the road. The release says the department concerned will give instructions on entry, so farmers should ask the market committee office about their slot.
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Source: Haryana Government press release dated 8 October 2026, on the district magistrate's directions for paddy procurement in Gurugram. Dates, limits and legal sections are as given in the release, which was in Hindi and has been paraphrased here.
