LPG Shortage: Karnataka High Court Seeks Centre's Response To Plea For Uninterrupted Cylinder Supply To Hotels, Restaurants
The Bengaluru Hotels Association and its functionaries have knocked on the doors of the Karnataka High Court seeking a solution for the ongoing scarcity of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders, which has threatened to shut down thousands of eateries across Bengaluru.
The matter was posted for a preliminary hearing before the single judge bench of Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum yesterday. The court has issued notice and sought responses from the Union and State governments as well as oil refining companies. The matter will be heard again next Monday.
The petitioners mainly challenge the Natural Gas (Supply) Order, 2026, issued by the State government on March 09, which restricted the daily supply of commercial LPG cylinders to just 7,000 for the entire state, with only 1,000 cylinders earmarked for restaurants, hotels, and dhabas, which essentially interrupts the regular chain of supply.
The Association points out that there are over 40,000 hotels in Bengaluru and 6 lakh labourers relying on the said industry. Moreover, the perishable goods sectors, like milk and vegetables, are a huge beneficiary of the hotel industry, the petition states. The association says the reverberations of the ongoing global conflict are now being felt in 'Indian kitchens'.
The petitioner association contends that the abrupt halt of the supply of cylinders infringes the right to practise their professions under Article 19(1)(g). The abrupt halt on the commercial supply of cylinders could only be termed as an 'indirect yet substantial restriction' that 'cripples' their business activities, submits the petitioners.
Fearing the prevailing geopolitical conflict, the petition seeks for an uninterrupted supply of commercial LPG cylinders to the hotels and restaurants situated in Bangalore. The interim prayer seeks to ensure the smooth functioning of such hotels with a steady supply of cylinders during the petition's pendency.
Adv. Satish K has filed this petition before the High Court for the Hotel Association
Yesterday, the Bombay High Court closed a petition filed by six distributors associated with Confidence Petroleum India Limited (CPIL), highlighting the shortage of LPG cylinders for local consumers, after the Central Government assured that it is taking all possible steps both internationally and domestically to ensure there is no hardship to citizens.
Case Title: Bangalore Hotels Association v. Union of India
Case No: WP 8968/2026