The Karnataka High Court on Monday dismissed a plea by the Bangalore Hotels Association seeking adequate supply of LPG cylinders, stating that allocation of LPG is a matter of government policy and falls within the executive's domain, not for courts to decide.
The petition was filed under Article 226 of the Constitution amid concerns over shortage of commercial Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), which the association said had affected the functioning of hotels and restaurants, especially in Bengaluru.
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The association had sought directions to the Union government, the Karnataka government and oil marketing companies to ensure regular and uninterrupted supply of LPG cylinders. It also requested interim relief for immediate restoration of supply.
During the hearing, the High Court declined to grant the relief sought. The court observed that decisions related to allocation, supply and prioritisation of LPG involve policy considerations and administrative decisions. It said such matters fall within the jurisdiction of the executive and cannot be decided by the court unless there is a violation of law.
The association argued that the shortage had disrupted daily operations of hotels and restaurants and affected the livelihood of workers in the sector. It also submitted that supply issues were linked to policy decisions that prioritised domestic consumers over commercial users.
The petition further highlighted that a large number of hotels and eateries in Bengaluru depend on LPG for their operations, and any disruption in supply could lead to financial losses and impact employment.
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Earlier, the High Court had asked the Centre and the state government to respond to the concerns raised in the petition. However, in its final order, the court dismissed the plea, stating that it cannot issue directions on how LPG should be allocated.
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