The Central government on Tuesday told the Bombay High Court that it is taking all possible domestic and international measures to address the LPG shortage triggered by the ongoing West Asia conflict, prompting the Nagpur bench to dispose of a petition filed by LPG distributors seeking increased supply of cooking gas cylinders.
The Nagpur bench, comprising Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Raj Wakode, accepted the Centre’s submissions and closed the writ petition, observing that the government is taking “all the necessary steps in the matter to protect the interests of individuals.”
The case arose from a plea filed by six LPG distributors, who approached the High Court seeking enhanced supply of domestic cooking gas cylinders amid the energy crisis linked to the Iran war. The court had earlier, on March 12, issued notices to the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and a private firm, Confidence Petroleum India Ltd.
The petitioners alleged that despite a directive from the Centre prioritising domestic LPG distribution, the Nagpur-based company had failed to increase supply for household consumers. They also pointed to disruptions in global crude supply due to the conflict, which in turn constrained LPG production.
Appearing via video conference, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta informed the court that the government is actively working on multiple fronts to mitigate the impact of the crisis. He said efforts are underway both within the country and at the diplomatic level to ensure that the international situation does not adversely affect India’s LPG supply.
Mehta urged the court to close the proceedings, stating that the government is closely monitoring developments and taking remedial steps. He also suggested that individual grievances could be addressed at the state level.
In its affidavit, the Centre acknowledged the supply concerns and assured the court that it is “fully cognisant” of the situation. It stated that all possible measures are being taken to maintain smooth distribution and availability of LPG.
“The Union of India is making all possible attempts domestically and internationally to ensure that no hardship is caused to anyone and the distribution and availability remain smooth,” the affidavit said.
The court, relying on these assurances, concluded that no further adjudication was required. “In view of the statement made in the Centre’s affidavit, it is evident that the government is taking all the necessary steps… In that view of the matter, nothing survives in this petition,” the bench observed.
Additionally, the High Court directed that storage and supply of LPG for domestic consumption must continue in accordance with the prevailing policy.
