Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sharply questioned the Union government’s approach to public health amid the capital’s severe air pollution, suggesting that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on air purifiers should be lowered if authorities are unable to ensure clean air for citizens.
A division bench headed by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar, along with Justice Tushar Rao, observed that access to breathable air is a basic necessity and not a luxury. The court noted that air purifiers, currently taxed at 18 per cent GST, have become essential for survival in pollution-hit regions like Delhi and the National Capital Region.
During the hearing, the bench told government counsel to seek instructions and report back later in the day on the possibility of reducing the tax rate. The court remarked that lowering GST would be the minimum relief the government could offer to citizens struggling with hazardous air quality.
The observations came while hearing a petition filed by Kapil Madan, who has challenged the high GST rate on air purifiers. The plea argues that treating air purifiers as luxury goods is unreasonable when residents are forced to rely on them to maintain basic indoor air safety.
The petition further contends that the steep tax makes air purifiers unaffordable for large sections of the population, despite their growing importance in preventing respiratory illnesses. It claims that these devices play a crucial role in reducing exposure to harmful pollutants and supporting safe breathing, especially for children, senior citizens, and those with medical conditions.
A key argument raised before the court is that air purifiers should be classified as medical or preventive health devices under existing government notifications. The plea points out that similar health-support equipment attracts a much lower GST rate, making the higher tax on air purifiers arbitrary and disconnected from public health priorities.
