NEW DELHI, Dec. 27 -- The Centre on Friday told the Delhi High Court that cutting Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates on air purifiers would "open a Pandora's box" and the decision requires a long-drawn consultative process involving multiple ministries, pushing back against a plea seeking an immediate reduction in tax amid worsening air pollution in Delhi-NCR. The submissions were made before a division bench of justices Vikas Mahajan and Vinod Kumar, which orally observed that air purifiers, often priced as high as Rs.40,000, remain beyond the reach of the common man and should be made more affordable. The hearing took place against the backdrop of Delhi and its surrounding regions grappling with their annual spate of air pollution. Additional solicitor general K Venkataraman, appearing for the Centre, argued that any move to slash GST rates could not be decided in isolation. "This will open a Pandora's box. A parliamentary committee has recommended something to us and it will be considered. There is a process. We are not saying whether it will be done or not," he told the court. "There is a process to deliberate upon this. It will involve the finance ministry and the health ministry. If the petitioner wants to give a representation to the GST Council, they may do so. How can this process be scuttled through a court proceeding," he submitted....