'No Outside Interference': Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Against Ethanol Blending

The Supreme Court on Monday (September 1) dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the Union Government’s Ethanol Blending Programme, which mandates the sale of petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol (E20).

According to LiveLaw, A bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran heard the petition, which had questioned the lack of an ethanol-free petrol option for vehicles manufactured before April 2023.

Appearing for the petitioner, Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat clarified that the plea was not against ethanol blending per se, but sought “an option of Ethanol-free petrol for vehicles manufactured prior to 2023, which are not compatible with E20.”

He referred to a 2021 NITI Aayog report, which raised concerns about the impact of higher ethanol content on older engines and highlighted studies pointing to a 6 per cent drop in fuel efficiency with E20.

Farasat stressed that most vehicles before April 2023 were non-compliant, yet the government had removed the availability of E10 or E0 petrol.

Attorney General R Venkataramani, representing the Centre, opposed the petition, dismissing it as a “name-lender” case backed by vested interests. He argued that the policy had been formulated after due consideration and strongly defended its benefits to India’s sugarcane farmers.

“Will people outside the country dictate what kind of fuel India should use?” he asked. Following his submissions, the CJI curtly pronounced, “Dismissed.”

The petition had claimed that E20 petrol corrodes engine parts, reduces mileage, and inflates repair costs, with insurance companies reportedly rejecting claims linked to such damage. It also alleged that, despite ethanol being cheaper, no price advantage had been passed on to consumers.

By contrast, the plea noted, the US and EU continue to offer ethanol-free petrol alongside blended fuels, with clear labelling to inform consumers which is absent in India.

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