New Delhi: The air pollution crisis in Delhi and its surrounding regions was once again under lens in court, with the Central government facing tough questions.
Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking directions to the Centre to classify air purifiers as ‘medical devices’ and bring down Goods and Services Tax (GST) to the 5% slab, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday said that’s the least the government can do to ensure fresh air for citizens.
Air purifiers are presently in the highest 18% tax slab.
A bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela expressed displeasure over nothing being done by the authorities to grant exemption from taxes on air purifiers in this “emergency situation”, PTI reported.
“We breathe 21,000 times a day, calculate the harm,” the bench said.
The high court directed the GST Council to convene a meeting and take a decision on either slashing or abolishing GST on air purifiers at the earliest, as the national Capital continues to record ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ air quality.
“This is the minimum that you can do. Every citizen requires fresh air. If you can’t do it, minimum you can do is reduce GST. Give an exemption for 15 days on a temporary basis. Treat this situation as an emergency. Take instructions and tell us now. Tell us now when will you come back with instructions,” the bench said, Bar & Bench reported.
The PIL, filed by advocate Kapil Madan, made the point that purifiers can’t be treated as luxury items in view of the “extreme emergency crisis” caused by severe air pollution in Delhi.
“Imposition of GST at the highest slab upon air-purifiers, a device that has become indispensable for securing minimally safe indoor air, renders such equipment financially inaccessible to large segments of the population and thereby inflicts an arbitrary, unreasonable, and constitutionally impermissible burden,” the petition stated.
The matter was listed for December 26 when the counsel for the authorities have to inform the court when the GST Council can meet.
