New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a PIL challenging the union Government’s ethanol blending programme mandating the sale of petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol (E20).
A bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran heard the matter.
Senior advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for the petitioner, referred to a 2021 NITI Aayog report that, he said, had raised concerns about the impact of E20 fuel on older vehicles.
He clarified that the petitioner was not opposing ethanol blending itself, but sought the continued availability of ethanol-free petrol (E0) for vehicles manufactured before April 2023, which are not compatible with E20.
Farasat argued that only vehicles manufactured after April 2023 are compliant with E20 petrol and cited reports indicating a 6 per cent drop in fuel efficiency. He stressed that NITI Aayog, too, had flagged the absence of parallel availability of E10 or E0 petrol.
Attorney General R. Venkataramani, opposing the plea, said the petitioner was merely a “name-lender” backed by a larger lobby.
He asserted that the government had framed the policy after considering all relevant aspects and underlined that it benefits India’s sugarcane farmers. “Will people outside the country dictate what kind of fuel India should use?” the AG remarked.
After hearing submissions, the bench dismissed the PIL, with the Chief Justice stating: “Dismissed.”
The petition had contended that the programme violated the fundamental rights of vehicle owners whose vehicles are incompatible with E20 fuel by denying them the option of ethanol-free petrol.
It claimed that higher ethanol content causes corrosion of engine parts, reduced fuel efficiency, premature wear and tear, and increased repair costs, with insurance claims allegedly being denied in such cases.
The plea also alleged that despite ethanol being cheaper than petrol, no cost benefit had been passed on to consumers, and fuel stations were charging the same price. It contrasted India’s policy with practices in the US and EU, where ethanol-free petrol remains available and blended fuels are clearly labelled.
The PIL had sought directions for the continued availability of E0 petrol, mandatory labelling of fuel pumps, consumer advisories on vehicle compatibility, enforcement of consumer protection norms, and a nationwide study on the impact of E20 on non-compatible vehicles.
