SC dismisses PIL against 20 per- cent Ethanol blending programme

The Supreme Court today dismissed a PIL challenging the union Government’s ethanol blending programme mandating the sale of petrol blended with 20 per cent ethanol (E20).

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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.