India, March 22 -- Maharashtra's legislative council on Friday sent back a bill to hike the motor vehicle tax to the state assembly with recommendations after opposition members raised concerns over some of the amendments. The state assembly can approve the bill with or without the council's recommendations.

State transport minister Pratap Sarnaik tabled the bill, which aims to tax electric vehicles (EV) priced above Rs.30 lakh at 6% of their cost and to increase the tax rate on private vehicles running on CNG and LPG by 1%. While Sarnaik urged the council to clear the bill, members of the Opposition insisted on speaking on the matter, which was eventually allowed.

Independent MLC Satyajeet Tambe demanded that the 6% tax on high-end EVs...