Delhi HC asks Centre why GST on air purifiers canÂ’t be lowered
GST
Dated:- 26-12-2025
PTI
New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) The Delhi High Court on Friday asked the Centre why it cannot reduce the GST charged on air purifiers to make it affordable for the common man in view of the worsening air quality in the national capital and nearby areas.
The courtÂ’s query came after the counsel for the Centre submitted that the GST Council is a constitutional body and it is no longer a unilateral levy of Delhi. It is a federal levy in all over India so all 30 states and union territories have to agree and involves union finance minister as its member.
Additional Solicitor General N Venkataraman, representing the Centre, said voting has to be done physically and it cannot be done through video conferencing and added that the government will file an extremely detailed counter affidavit in the matter.
A vacation bench of Justices Vikas Mahajan and Vinod Kumar granted 10 days' time to the centra
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n Delhi.
During the hearing, the bench told the petitioner that in the last hearing also, the court was with him because the issue raised is such that “everybody is concerned”.
Agreeing to this, the ASG said, “certainly milords our hearts are there, no doubt”.
He said this matter was deliberated at the highest level involving the finance minister and they had an urgent meeting on Thursday but have some concerns with this writ petition.
The law officer said if the petitioner wants this petition to be treated as a representation by the GST Council through the secretariat, the court may pass an order today itself.
If the petitioner wants to contest the petition, we want to file an extremely detailed counter affidavit. ItÂ’s a loaded petition and we really want to know who is behind it, he added.
“Two prayers have nothing to do with GST. Health Ministry is not a party to the petition and a prayer is sought regarding it….
“Somebody wants a monopoly in air purifiers, we don't know. We
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ks about breathing devices. All medical devices are falling in schedule 1″.
The court asked the ASG as to what is the difficulty in conducting the meeting of the GST Council and then they can take a call.
The ASG said, “This will open up a pandora box. The committee has recommended something to us. ThatÂ’s the process. We are not saying anything at the moment, whether we will reduce or not. I am not giving any commitmentÂ…. We are scared from the constitutional perceptive. Let this be converted into representation and sent to the Council.” On December 24, the court had directed the GST Council to meet at the earliest and consider lowering or abolishing GST on air purifiers.
The matter was listed today to inform the court as to when the Council can meet and whether it was possible for the Council to meet virtually, if not physically.
Earlier, the high court had expressed displeasure over the authorities doing nothing to grant exemption from taxes on air purifiers in this “emergency
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