Consumer forum issues notices to IOC, petroleum ministry

LUCKNOW: The district consumer forum has issued notices to the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC) and the ministry of petroleum, following a petition seeking details of the various components in the petrol bill handed out at fuel stations.

After hearing the arguments made by Dr Anand Akhila, former scientist, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, the chairman of the consumer forum, Arvind Kumar, and judicial officer Rajarshi Shukla issued notices to IOCL and the ministry of petroleum and natural gas affairs, Government of India, to submit their replies on December 7.

Dr Akhila said, “Every government or non-government establishment issues component-wise details of the money charged by them. In all the bills and receipts issued various taxes are printed. Even the power corporations prints the details of the electricity surcharge, duty etc. Then why are

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Why are the taxes collected by the state and central governments not mentioned separately in the receipts received at petrol pumps?

DR ANAND AKHILA, former scientist

the taxes collected by the state and central governments not mentioned separately in the receipts received at petrol pumps.”

“These details must be printed on the receipt and also displayed at the fuel station, so that everyone, including taxpayers, knows where the money is going,” he reasoned.

Taking a strong note of Dr Akhila’s submissions, the judicial officer commented that it was the right of the common man and the consumer to know where the money paid by them was going in the name of taxes. The court fixed the hearing of the matter for December 7.