Bombay High Court Seeks Centre’s Response on Plea to Increase Domestic LPG Cylinder Supply

The Bombay High Court, in M/s Omkar Sales and others v Union of India (WP (C) 2165/2026), has issued notice to the Union Government on a petition filed by LPG distributors seeking an increase in the supply of domestic cooking gas cylinders. The matter was heard by the Nagpur Bench on Thursday.

The case was placed before a division bench comprising Justice Anil S Kilor and Justice Raj D Wakode. The petition was filed by six LPG distributors associated with Confidence Petroleum India Limited, who alleged that the supply of domestic LPG cylinders has become insufficient.

The distributors approached the Court requesting directions to ensure adequate supply of cooking gas cylinders meant for household use. They argued that the shortage has been affecting consumers and distributors alike, especially during the current global energy situation.

According to the petitioners, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had already issued policy directions emphasising that LPG production and distribution should prioritise domestic consumption. Despite these instructions, the distributors claimed that the supply of cylinders for household purposes had not been increased.

The distributors further stated that they had repeatedly made representations to the concerned authorities and the company seeking corrective action. These requests included demands to temporarily halt LPG exports and increase the allocation for domestic use.

However, the petitioners alleged that no effective steps were taken in response to these representations. As a result, distributors have been facing difficulty in maintaining consistent supply for consumers who rely on LPG for daily cooking needs.

The petition also highlighted that recent geopolitical developments have contributed to the supply disruptions. In particular, the ongoing Iran–Israel conflict has affected the movement of crude oil from major producing regions.

According to the plea, the conflict has slowed the transportation of oil from countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Syria. These disruptions have consequently impacted LPG production and availability.

The distributors argued that in such circumstances, the government’s policy prioritising domestic LPG supply must be implemented more strictly. They urged the Court to intervene and ensure that sufficient quantities of household cylinders are made available in the domestic market.

After hearing the submissions, the Court issued notices to the Union Government, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Confidence Petroleum India Limited. The respondents have been asked to file their response to the allegations raised in the petition.

While issuing notice, the bench also directed that the storage and supply of domestic LPG cylinders must strictly follow the existing policy guidelines issued by the government.

The Court has listed the matter for further hearing on Monday, when it will consider the responses of the authorities and examine whether any further directions are required.

The petitioners were represented before the Court by advocates Shyam Dewani and Saahil Dewani.