Supreme Court Upholds E20 Petrol Mandate, Dismisses Plea for Ethanol-Free Fuel Option

The Supreme Court has rejected a public interest litigation (PIL) that challenged the government’s directive on blending petrol with 20% ethanol. Justices B.R. Gavai and Vinod Chandran delivered the ruling, effectively supporting the government’s ethanol blending program. The Attorney General explained how the program benefits sugarcane farmers, the primary source of ethanol. The government also argued that consumers cannot dictate fuel composition. The transition to E20 is occurring ahead of schedule, with the goal of reducing India’s fuel import bill and providing cleaner burning fuel. Maruti Suzuki may offer E20 upgrade kits for older models. The petitioner sought the option of pure petrol for older vehicles that may not be E20-compliant, citing potential fuel efficiency drops and concerns about the lack of alternative fuel options.