Government tells HC it will examine panel’s recommendations amid rising air pollution concerns

In a significant development reflecting the growing urgency around air pollution, the Central government on Friday informed the Delhi High Court that it would process and examine the recommendations of a parliamentary panel seeking a reduction or removal of GST on air purifiers.


The assurance came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting the severe air quality crisis in the national capital and the need to make air purifiers more affordable for the common citizen. The court recorded the Centre’s submission and posted the matter for further hearing in March.


Earlier, the parliamentary committee had taken a strong view on the imposition of high Goods and Services Tax (GST) on air purifiers and HEPA filters, observing that such taxation effectively penalises citizens for a public health failure. The panel had recommended either a substantial reduction or complete abolition of GST on these essential devices, especially in cities battling hazardous air pollution levels.


During the proceedings, the High Court questioned why air purifiers—often the only line of defence for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and those with respiratory ailments—should be treated as luxury items. The court noted that the pollution emergency in Delhi warranted a more sensitive and health-centric policy approach.


Representing the Centre, senior law officers argued that matters related to GST rates fall within the domain of the GST Council and that judicial directions to alter tax rates could raise constitutional concerns regarding the separation of powers. However, the government maintained that the recommendations would be duly considered through appropriate institutional mechanisms.


The case has once again brought into focus the intersection of public health, environmental governance and taxation policy. Legal experts and environmental activists believe that a favourable decision could set an important precedent, acknowledging clean air as a basic necessity rather than a privilege.


As Delhi continues to grapple with toxic air for a significant part of the year, the High Court’s intervention and the Centre’s assurance have raised hopes that policy reforms may soon ease the financial burden on citizens striving to protect their health.