SC dismisses petitions seeking GST exemption on Haj services for pilgrims

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed petitions from various private tour operators seeking Goods and Services Tax (GST) exemption for Haj and Umrah services offered to pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia. 

A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar, A S Oka and C T Ravikumar pronounced the judgment, saying they "dismissed" the petitions on both the grounds of exemption and discrimination."

The argument raised by petitioners on extraterritorial application of GST for services given outside India is kept open, as it is pending before another bench, said Justice Oka, reported Livelaw. 

The private tour operators challenged the GST on Haj