PIL in Odisha HC seeks petrol, diesel under GST

Cuttack: A public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to bring petrol and diesel under the ambit of Goods and Services Tax (GST) was filed in the Odisha High Court today.

Social activist Surendra Panigrahi has named Petroleum Secretary, Finance Secretary, Finance Minister, State Chief Secretary and Chairpersons of oil marketing companies- HPCL, IOCL, and BPCL as opposite parties in the PIL, High Court sources said.

In the PIL Panigrahi has sought for doing away with levy of central excise on petroleum products and include it under the lowest slab of GST while adding that reining in price of petroleum products will lead to a reduction in prices of other goods.

“My client has petitioned the High Court for doing away with the levy of central excise and Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products and its inclusion under the ambit of GST,” informed Antaryami Swain, petitioner’s counsel.

Notably, following nationwide public outrage over the recent hike in fuel prices, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry has urged the Ministry of Finance to bring petroleum products under the ambit of GST in the interest of consumers.

GST came into effect in the country from July 1 but some goods like alcohol and petroleum products have been kept out of its purview.