Empty Shell

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) plans to take legal action against Shell and Laugfs for prematurely increasing gas prices.







The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) plans to take legal action against Shell and Laugfs for prematurely increasing gas prices. The CAA says the gas retailers jumped the gun on a one-month waiting period, as required by law, before any price changes.

"According to the law, if the CAA does not respond within one month of application for a price increase, the increase can go ahead," explains Chairman CAA, M I M Muhseen.

The mix up is on the date of application.

"Shell applied on July 30, but we wanted more information.

So the date we took into account as the date of application was August 10," says Muhseen.

But Shell went ahead with a Rs.

96 price increase counting one month from July 30.

"If at all the price increase should actually happen from September 10," Muhseen told LBO.

Laugfs is also accused of a premature price increase when it put up the price of a 12.

5 kg cylinder by Rs. 70 on Monday night.

"With Laugfs, the price should go up only on September 12," says Muh