PIL on petrol price hike: Centre to file reply in Bombay HC

New Delhi: The government is expected to file a reply in the Bombay High Court on Wednesday regarding a PIL against hike in petrol prices. The court had last week sought a response from the Centre, Petroleum and Finance Ministries on a PIL that claims the hike was illegal as it wasn't endorsed by Parliament.

The PIL, filed by Rajendra Phanse, submitted that the petrol prices were hiked abruptly on May 23 at the stroke of midnight after the conclusion of the budget session of Parliament.

The petitioner contended that the raise in petrol prices was 'totally illegal' as it has no approval of the Parliament.

The court had sought a response from the Centre, Petroleum and Finance Ministries on a PIL that claims the hike was illegal as it wasn\'t endorsed by Parliament.

The Centre increased prices of petrol by Rs 7.50 per litre.

Terming as undemocratic, the hike since it was announced after the Budget session was over, the petitioner argued that in the past the decisions like raising the rates of postal and telephone services used to be taken during the budget session.

The petitioner further said that the hike was against the principles of natural justice as it is bound to affect the entire population of the country.

Citing lack of uniformity in the prices of petrol, the petitioner said that in Thane (Maharashtra), the price per litre is Rs 81.70, while it is as low as Rs 58.06 in Port Blair, Rs 81.75 per litre in Bengaluru and Rs 73.18 in Delhi. This showed that the prices of petrol change from city to city within the country, which is nothing but a geographical discrimination in contravention of Article 14 of the Constitution, he said.

With Additional Inputs from PTI

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