A PIL seeking directions to the Centre to include masks and hand sanitizers in the list of essential commodities during COVID-19 pandemic and also reduce the GST applicable on them was dismissed by the Delhi HC.
Chief Justice D N Patek and Justice Prateek Jalan stated that the PIL was “without any substance” as it does not show that the masks and hand sanitizers are not easily available or are being sold at exorbitant prices by traders for them to be included in the list of essential commodities.
“Inclusion of essential commodities under the Act is a complex decision based on a variety of factors like availability and pricing. If in the opinion of the government masks and hand sanitizers are easily available, then there is no need to regulate supply of such commodities,” the bench said.
