Power to specify minimum limits of germination and purity, etc
Section 6 of the Seeds Act, 1966 deals with power to specify minimum limits of germination and purity, etc. The Central Government may, after consultation with the Committee and by notification in the Official Gazette, specify-- (a) the minimum limits of germination and purity with respect to any seed of any notified kind or variety; The Act came into force on 02 Sep 1968.
The Central Government may, after consultation with the Committee and by notification in the Official Gazette, specify--
(a) the minimum limits of germination and purity with respect to any seed of any notified kind or variety;
(b) the mark or label to indicate that such seed conforms to the minimum limits of germination and purity specified under clause (a) and the particulars which such mark or label may contain.
Section 6, The Seeds Act, 1966 (Act 54 of 1966).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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M/s Green Gold Seeds Pvt. Limited & Ors. v. The State of Maharashtra & Anr.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Bombay HC (Aurangabad) quashed Seeds Act prosecution charging s.19(a)(i) read with ss.6(a)/7(b) (germination claimed 70% vs tested 55%) where accused timely sought Central Seed Laboratory reanalysis under s.16(2) but complaint was filed after lot expiry (02.11.2018), depriving the statutory reanalysis right; applied Mahyco Vegetable Seeds and R. Shridhar; non-speaking summons also lacked application of mind. DATE VERIFIED Final Order 2025-07-07 (order-22.pdf). Distinct from skipped Mahyco wrong-doc cache.
On this section: s.6 minimum germination/purity limits — prosecution for falling below notified germination standards cannot proceed when s.16(2) reanalysis right is lost by post-expiry complaint.
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… Quality seed is the fundamental basic input for good crop yields and thus the quality of seed available to the farming community assumes great importance in an agriculture based country like ours. As per Section 6 of the Seeds Act a specific minimum limit of germination and purity is fixed as well as the mandatory requirement of mark or label to indicate such seed conforms to the minimum limit of germination and purity. If this is violated which is to be judged by seizing such seeds and subjecting them to Seed Analysis test. …
Made under this section, and citing it
2 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 6
What have the courts held on Section 6 of the Seeds Act?
M/s Green Gold Seeds Pvt. Limited & Ors. v. The State of Maharashtra & Anr. (07 Jul 2025) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: s.6 minimum germination/purity limits — prosecution for falling below notified germination standards cannot proceed when s.16(2) reanalysis right is lost by post-expiry complaint.
How do I find court cases under Section 6 of the Seeds Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Seeds Act 1966 6, section 6 Seeds Act 1966, section 6 of the Seeds Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with M/s Green Gold Seeds Pvt. Limited & Ors. v. The State of Maharashtra & Anr. (07 Jul 2025).
What should I read with Section 6 of the Seeds Act, and has it changed?
3 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. 2 instruments name it without being made under it, most recently the Seeds (Amendment) Rules, 2014 (2015), then The Seed Ruls, 1968 (1966).
When did Section 6 of the Seeds Act come into force?
Section 6 of the Seeds Act, cited as Seeds Act 1966 6, came into force on 02 Sep 1968, having been enacted on 29 Dec 1966. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 14. Powers of Seed Inspector490 words
- 25. Power to make rules470 words
- 15. Procedure to be followed by Seed Inspectors468 words
- 2. Definitions317 words
- 3. Central Seed Committee298 words
- 16. Report of Seed Analyst264 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.