Particle.news
Download on the App Store
25 ARTICLES
·
6d ago

Delhi HC Gives Centre 10 Days to Reply on Plea to Cut GST on Air Purifiers

The government says only the statutory route—Health Ministry classification followed by a physical GST Council decision—can alter the rate.

Additional solicitor general K Venkataraman, appearing for the Centre, argued that any move to slash GST rates could not be decided in isolation. (HT PHOTO)
Image
The PIL in the Delhi High Court sought to include air purifiers as medical devices, seeing the “extreme emergency crises” due to the poor air quality in Delhi.
Image

Overview

  • The PIL by advocate Kapil Madan seeks to classify air purifiers as medical devices taxed at 5% instead of the current 18%.
  • A vacation bench of Justices Vikas Mahajan and Vinod Kumar set the next hearing for January 9, 2026 and granted no interim tax relief.
  • Additional Solicitor General N. Venkataraman opposed the plea, saying the GST Council cannot classify medical devices and warning court‑ordered relief could open a 'Pandora’s box.'
  • The Centre told the court any GST Council meeting on the issue must be held in person and sought time to file a detailed counter‑affidavit.
  • The bench stressed public‑health and affordability concerns in Delhi‑NCR, asking why the tax cannot be lowered to put purifiers within reach of common users.