New Delhi. The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Central Government and concerned authorities as to why 18 percent GST is being imposed on air purifiers when the air situation in the capital is like an emergency. The court said that if the government is not able to provide clean air to the people, then at least reduce the tax on air purifiers. The division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gadela said that every citizen has the right to breathe clean air. In such a situation, considering air purifier as a luxury item and imposing 18% tax on it is not right.
In fact, a PIL was filed in the court demanding that air purifiers be included in the category of medical devices and GST on them should be reduced from 18 percent to 5 percent. The appeal said that in times of poor AQI, air purifiers have no longer become a luxury but a necessity. At the same time, Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said in a program that I get infection after staying in Delhi for two to three days. He said that 40 percent of the pollution is being caused by the transport sector of which I am the minister.
what did the court say
The bench said that when the government itself has failed to provide clean air, then at least reducing the tariff on air purifiers or giving tax exemption could be the most basic step. The court asked how long should people wait – until the situation becomes more serious? A person breathes about 21 thousand times a day and poisonous air directly affects health. Asked the Center that when the situation is like an air emergency, can air purifiers not be temporarily exempted from tax under any emergency provision. The bench suggested that tax relief could be considered, even if for 15 days or for some fixed period. The court made it clear that it does not just want long dates but wants concrete proposals in the current situation.