Bengaluru: The high court disposed of a petition filed by Bangalore Hotels’ Association and others seeking a direction to ensure uninterrupted supply of commercial LPG cylinders to hotels and restaurants in the city, declining judicial review in the matter.Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum noted that the court has taken cognisance of a Bombay high court order cited by the central govt and observed, “The issue (supply of LPG) constitutes complex international developments and policy responses are necessitated thereby. Matters relating to allocation, distribution and prioritisation of essential commodities, especially at the time of global uncertainty and constrained supply, fall squarely within the realm of executive policy.”“Therefore, this court is of the view that though the petitioner-association has sought certain directions, any necessary directions, if issued, would trench upon executive policy making it a highly sensitive domain involving national resources, international supply chains and competing sectoral demands. Judicial review under Article 226, though wide, is not intended to supplant executive wisdom in such matters, particularly when decisions are informed by technical, economic and geopolitical considerations,” the judge added. The petitioners had claimed that the decision to restrict commercial LPG supply had affected around 6 lakh employees working in 40,000 hotels and restaurants in Bengaluru city. The closure of hotels was affecting milk suppliers, poultry industry as well as suppliers of meat, eggs and vegetables, they contended.
