SC dismisses plea seeking GST exemption for Haj via private tour operators

The private tour operators argued that the levy is discriminatory as it exempts certain pilgrims who undertake the journey through the Haj Committee of India

The Supreme Court on Tuesday has dismissed a batch of petitions filed by various private tour operators seeking exemption from the goods and services tax (GST) for Haj and Umrah services offered to pilgrims.

The judgement was pronounced by a Bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, AS Oka and CT Ravikumar on 17 petitions filed by various tour operators and State Haj organisers challenging differential GST levied which gets passed on to Haj pilgrims.

The tour operators had challenged the levy of GST on Haj pilgrims who avail services offered by registered private tour operators on the ground that no