The Bombay High Court today issued
notices to the Centre, the Petroleum Ministry and the Finance Secretary on a PIL which claimed that the recent petrol price hike is illegal as it lacked Parliament's approval and ultra vires of the Constitution.

A bench of Justices R Y Ganoo and N M Jamdar ordered service of notices to the respondents, who apart from the
Central ministries also include oil marketing companies Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.

The bench has posted the matter to May 30.

The PIL, filed by Rajendra Phanse, general secretary of 'Dharmarajya Paksha', submitted that the petrol prices were hiked abruptly on May 23 at the stroke of midnight after the
conclusion of the budget session of Parliament.

State owned oil companies increased prices of petrol by 7.50 rupees per litre.