HC notice to Centre, Guj on petition seeking uniform CNG rates

The Gujarat High Court today issued notices to the Centre, the state government and the gas companies on disparity in retail price of CNG in the state.
The division bench of Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and justice J B Pardiwala was hearing the petition filed by Gujarat Rajya Auto-rickshaw Federation that some gas companies were selling CNG to consumers in the state at higher rates.
The court has issued notices to Gas Authority of India limited (GAIL), Gujarat Gas Company, Adani Gas Limited and GSPC Gas Company.
The petition says that dealers were getting CNG from Central Government at the same rate but they were selling it to the citizens of Gujarat at different rates.

"When all the gas companies are getting CNG from the union government at the same rate, they should not charge higher rates of Rs 3 to 4 per kg CNG.
"In Vadodara, GAIL is charging Rs 43.20 per kg of CNG whereas Adani Rs 46.75 per kg. While in Surat, GSPC is charging Rs 44.90 per kg whereas Gujarat Gas Company Rs 46.70," it says.

The petition further alleges that Adani Gas Ltd, at its outlet in Ahmedabad, was charging Rs 46.75 per kg of CNG, while the Indian Oil outlet in the same city Rs 44.90 per kg.
Advocate Subhash Brahmbhatt, lawyer for the petitioner, pointed out that there were no local taxes on gas, so variance in rates was not justifiable.

The petition also raised the issue of the quality of the CNG and demanded an audit of the accounts of Adani and Gujarat Gas Company Limited for computing the excess amount charged, and sought direction to these companies to deposit the excess amount with the state treasury.
The court will hear the case after two weeks.