Judicial Review Upholds 5% GST on Superior Kerosene Oil, Ruling Rate Impact Negligible for Consumers

HC dismissed writ petition challenging GST rate on Superior Kerosene Oil. Despite petitioner's concerns, court upheld GST Council's 5% rate, finding the impact on final price "very negligible." Petition disposed without costs, affirming the council's expert committee-based decision on taxation.

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The Calcutta High Court, through Hon'ble Justices Soumen Sen and Smita Das De, addressed a writ petition challenging the imposition of GST on Superior Kerosene Oil for the Public Distribution System. The Court noted that the GST Council, in its 20th September 2019 meeting, had set the GST rate at 5%, reduced from the standard 18%, based on recommendations by an expert committee reviewing GST rates for various items. The Court observed that the GST's impact on the final price per liter of kerosene oil is "very negligible." Consequently, the Court declined to interfere with the GST Council's decision, disposing of the petition and related application without costs. An urgent certified copy of the order may be supplied upon request and compliance with formalities.

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