Delhi HC Urges GST Council to Cut GST on Air Purifiers Amid Smog Crisis
Delhi HC Urges GST Council to Cut GST on Air Purifiers Amid Smog Crisis
Delhi High Court pushes for urgent GST relief on air purifiers as air quality remains 'very poor' and a plea seeks medical-device status with a 5% tax.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the GST Council to meet at the earliest and consider lowering or abolishing the goods and services tax on air purifiers in view of the worsening air quality in the national capital. A Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela posted the matter for December 26 to enable counsel for the authorities to inform the court when the Council could meet. I develop infections in Delhi: Nitin Gadkari acknowledges 40% pollution linked to transport. Earlier in the day, the High Court expressed displeasure over the authorities doing nothing to grant tax exemption on air purifiers in what it described as an “emergency situation”, when the air quality index was in the “very poor” category. The court was hearing a public interest litigation seeking directions to the Central government to classify air purifiers as “medical devices” and reduce the goods and services tax to the 5% slab. Air purifiers are currently taxed at 18%. Related Stories L-G blames AAP for pollution; Oppn. party calls it ‘letter theatrics’ Delhi govt. begins drive against polluting units; orders closure of 411 polluting industries CM pitches reliable public transport as solution to pollution Advocate Kapil Madan, in his petition, said that air purifiers could not be treated as luxury items in view of the “extreme emergency crisis” caused by severe air pollution in Delhi. The plea contended that access to clean indoor air had become indispensable for health and survival.
