Thaindian News

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 4 (IANS) The latest petrol price hike found mention Friday in the Kerala High Court as well as the Kerala assembly, with both expressing their displeasure over the frequent fuel price rise.

A division bench of the high court in Kochi, hearing a petition filed by former Lok Sabha member P.C. Thomas asking the court to intervene to set aside the latest increase of Rs.1.80 per litre in petrol price, observed that it is time the consumer reacts to these frequent hikes.

The court also asked the government-run oil companies and Reliance Petroleum to produce their detailed account statements.

The court pointed out that it is only the political parties that protest the frequent price rise and that happens for political reasons.

The court posted the case for further hearing next month.

In the Kerala assembly, former finance minister Thomas Issac gave notice of an adjournment motion on the issue and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy agreed to take it up for discussion.

Winding up the debate on this issue, Chandy read out a resolution which said that the assembly is deeply concerned over the frequent price rise and also asked the centre to revoke their earlier decision giving a free hand to oil companies to fix the price of petroleum products.

“To bring some solace to the people of the state we have decided to see that the state government will forgo Re.0.37, which the state would have got by taxes in the light of yesterday’s increase. Since this government took over in May this year, by now we have decided to forgo Rs.396 crore, which would have come to the state exchequer following every price rise on petroleum products,” said Chandy and requested the house to pass the resolution unanimously.

Issac wanted the assembly to modify Chandy’s resolution by adding that the state asks the centre to withdraw the price rise.

When this was put to vote, it did not pass through with 70 ruling front legislators opposing it, while only 63 opposition members voted for the amendmended version.

But when Speaker G. Karthikeyan decided to put to vote Chandy’s resolution, Deputy Leader of Opposition Kodiyeri Balakrishnan stood up and said there need be no vote on this.

“The opposition would join with the treasury benches to pass the resolution unanimously,” said Balakrishnan.

Oil marketing companies Thursday raised petrol prices by Rs.1.80 per litre effective midnight, just over a month-and-half since the last hike of Rs.3.14 a litre Sep 15.

The latest hike is the 11th since June 2010.