Supreme Court allows E20 ethanol blend rollout after PIL dismissal

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a public interest litigation challenging the nationwide rollout of 20 percent ethanol blended petrol, known as E20, rejecting calls to require ethanol free petrol at fuel stations and to pause the scheme. A bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran delivered the order in New Delhi after hearing arguments from the petitioner and the Union government.

The plea, filed by advocate Akshay Malhotra, argued that mandating E20 would force millions of motorists to use fuel incompatible with many vehicles, particularly cars and two wheelers manufactured before April 2023 and some newer BSVI models. Counsel for the petitioner warned of material degradation, safety hazards, loss of mileage and potential denial of warranty and insurance claims, and sought directions to ensure the availability of ethanol free petrol, mandatory labeling of ethanol content at pumps, and a nationwide impact study on mechanical degradation and efficiency loss in noncompliant vehicles. Senior advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that consumers should have a choice and be informed at the point of dispensing, saying,...