Bombay High Court Orders Notice on LPG Export Prioritization Amid Domestic Shortage A Division Bench of the Bombay High Court, comprising Justices Anil S Kilor and Raj D Wakode, has directed the Union government and Confidence Petroleum India Ltd (CPIL) to respond to a petition alleging that exports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are being prioritized over domestic supply amid a severe shortage in the country. The court described the issue as "serious" and of "grave importance," emphasizing its potential impact on consumers. The petition, filed by six LPG dealers including Omkar Sales and others, claims that the domestic supply chain for LPG has been severely disrupted, particularly in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region. The dealers argue that the shortage is linked to recent geopolitical tensions involving Iran, the US, and other Middle Eastern suppliers, which have disrupted the supply of oil and essential commodities. This has led to an unprecedented scarcity of LPG domestically, causing widespread hardship for consumers. The petitioners stated that they exclusively procure their LPG requirements from CPIL and are now unable to meet the demands of households, hotels, small industries, and commercial establishments in Nagpur and surrounding areas. Despite this, they allege that CPIL is diverting significant quantities of LPG to international exports to capitalize on higher global prices, exacerbating the domestic crisis. The petition references two orders issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) under the Essential Commodities Act and the Petroleum Products (Maintenance of Production, Storage and Supply) Order, 1999.#bombay_high_court #anil_s_kilor #raj_d_wakode #confidence_petroleum_india_ltd #mo_png
