Supreme Court declines plea for ethanol disclosure on petrol

The Supreme Court of India has declined to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking mandatory disclosure of ethanol percentages in petrol. The petition, filed by advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami, requested that fuel stations clearly display the exact ethanol blend on every dispensing nozzle and include this information on all transaction receipts and bills.

In addition to transparency at the pump, the petitioner sought the creation of an official government database detailing vehicle compatibility with E20 petrol, categorized by manufacturer, model, and year of production. The plea also suggested mechanisms to provide lower-ethanol fuel to older vehicles not suitable for high blends.

A bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B Varale refused to hear the matter under Article 32, instead granting the petitioner liberty to approach the relevant High Court to seek relief. The petitioner stated he was not challenging the government's ethanol-blending policy itself, but rather asserting the fundamental right of consumers to know the exact composition of the fuel they purchase.