Today, the Central government informed the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court that it is taking remedial steps to deal with the Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) situation so that any global shortage caused by the ongoing Iran–Israel conflict does not disrupt supplies in India.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta made the submission before a Bench of Justices Anil S. Kilor and Raj D. Wakode.

He told the Court that the government is actively working on the issue and that diplomatic-level negotiations are underway to ensure that the LPG supply chain remains stable.

Mehta said that while the government is taking several steps internationally, these measures cannot be publicly disclosed at the moment. He urged the Court to close the petition filed by LPG dealers, assuring the Bench that the government is doing its best to address the situation.

“There are negotiations at the diplomatic level. We are doing our best. The Court may consider closing the matter and trust the government. Individual issues can be taken up by the State government,” he submitted.

The petition had been filed by LPG dealers who alleged that exports were being prioritised over domestic supply during a shortage triggered by the Middle East conflict.

According to the dealers, LPG supplies in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region had been disrupted, causing hardship for local consumers. They also accused Confidence Petroleum India Ltd (CPIL) of diverting LPG for export despite the shortage.

Earlier on March 12, the Court had issued notice to the Union government and CPIL and sought their response, describing the issue as “serious”.

In its affidavit, the Centre told the Court that the situation is “ever evolving” and that it is taking necessary steps in the interest of citizens.

During the hearing, Mehta also said that strict action is taken whenever authorities find negligence or violations by wholesale or retail distributors.

After considering the government’s submissions, the Court decided to close the petition.