India, Dec. 25 -- NEW DELHI

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council to consider reducing the tax on air purifiers in Delhi-NCR, on a temporary or permanent basis, in view of deteriorating air quality in the region.

The direction was passed by a division bench of chief justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and justice Tushar Rao Gedela, on a public interest litigation (PIL) contending that air purifiers be classified "medical devices" and that the GST must be reduced from 18% to 5%.

"This is the minimum that you can do. Every citizen requires fresh air. If you can't do it, minimum you can do is reduce GST. Give an exemption for 15 days on a temporary basis. Treat this situation as an emergency...,"...