Kuwaiti court scraps petrol price hike

KUWAIT CITY: A Kuwaiti court on Wednesday ordered the government of the oil-rich Gulf state to abolish an increase in petrol prices nearly one month after it took effect.

The price hike, ranging from about 40 to 80 percent depending on the type, met stiff opposition from lawmakers and activists when introduced on September 1 following a slide in oil revenues.  The administrative court did not immediately give the reasons for its ruling which was based on a petition filed by lawyer Nawaf al-Fuzai.  Fuzai told AFP that he argued the price decision "should have come through a bill from parliament and not from the cabinet."

"I believe the judge has accepted our argument," he said after the verdict was announced. The court was expected to release the full ruling later Wednesday. It can still be challenged by the government at the appeals and supreme courts.  The development came after Kuwaiti lawmakers on Thursday requested an emergency session of parliament to debate the price increase.

In their motion, lawmakers said the move had resulted in a rise in the prices of commodities and goods. MPs want the government to compensate Kuwaiti citizens who comprise around 30 percent of the 4.3 million population, which also includes about three million foreigners.