SC junks plea against rollout of 20% ethanol-blended petrol

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a PIL challenging the nationwide rollout of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol (EBP-20), alleging millions of motorists were forced to use the fuel not designed for their vehicles.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai rejected the petition filed by advocate Akshay Malhotra after Attorney General R Venkataramani said the decision benefitted sugarcane farmers.

“This petitioner is an Englander (sic). Somebody from outside will dictate what petrol to use. Sugarcane farmers are benefitting from this. Now, they will tell us not to...,” Venkataramani submitted.

The Bench, which also included Justice K Vinod Chandran, rejected the petition seeking directions to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to ensure availability of ethanol-free petrol at all fuel stations.

On behalf of the petitioner, senior advocate Shadan Farasat submitted that only EBP-20 was “seemingly available” at petrol pumps now, that too without any notice.

Admitting that EBP-20 was not a problem for vehicles compatible with it, Farasat said it caused damage to vehicles not compatible with it. Consumers should be given a choice, he demanded.

The PIL had sought a direction to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to ensure availability of ethanol-free petrol at all fuel stations. It has also wanted the authorities to mandatorily label ethanol content on all petrol pumps and dispensing units, making it clearly visible to consumers, and also to ensure that consumers were informed about ethanol compatibility of their vehicles at the time of fuel dispensing.

The PIL sought to highlight how global practices differed sharply and said in the US and EU, ethanol-free petrol was still widely available, and pumps clearly displayed ethanol content for consumers to make an informed choice. In India, however, only ethanol-blended fuel is sold, with no disclosure of composition at dispensing units, it said.

The PIL urged the top court to direct authorities to conduct a “nationwide impact study on mechanical degradation and efficiency loss due to ethanol blended fuel to the extent of 20 per cent usage in non-compliant vehicles”.

Millions of motorists were being left helpless at the pumps and were forced to buy fuel that many of their vehicles cannot handle and cars and two-wheelers manufactured before 2023, and even some newer BS-VI models, were not compatible with such high ethanol blends, it alleged.

“Direct the respondents to ensure that consumers are informed about ethanol compatibility of their vehicles at the time of fuel dispensing,” it said, highlighting damage to engines, dropping of mileage among other consequences of the move.

Engines are suffering corrosion, fuel efficiency is dropping and repair bills are mounting, while insurance companies are rejecting claims for damage caused by ethanol fuel, it alleged.