E20 line: "Right to know" the exact percentage of ethanol in gasoline? The Supreme Court rejects the lawsuit

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a plea seeking a directive from the Center and others to ensure mandatory and uniform labeling of every dispenser gun at petrol stations that would reveal the exact percentage of ethanol in petrol.

A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale said it would not entertain a PIL under Article 32 (right to approach the Supreme Court directly) and the petitioner, Narendra Kumar Goswami, could approach the appropriate High Court for relief.

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“(Petition (dismissed). Open to the petitioner to approach the appropriate authority,” the court said in its order, according to the bar.

Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the central government, opposed the plea. “Your Lordships have already dismissed pleas challenging the policy,” he said, referring to earlier orders in which the Supreme Court had refused to challenge the policy itself.

However, Goswami pointed out that he was not challenging the policy itself, but was only seeking disclosure of the ethanol content of petrol.

“I’m not questioning this policy. I just want to know. I have a right to know. Even if we buy a package of cookies, we know the ingredients. The last time the AG said it was an experiment. Then they gave a clarification,” he added, according to the report.

“I have a right to know”: What did the petitioner demand?

Petitioner Narendra Kumar Goswami claimed that he was entitled to know the content of petrol supplied at the petrol stations.

“I have a right to be informed. I want to know. If I buy petrol, there is no mention of E20,” Goswami said. E20 gasoline is a mixture of 20 percent ethanol and 80 percent gasoline.

“Not only me, but also the citizens should be informed about the composition of the fuel they are served,” he said, according to PTI.

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Goswami also sought a direction that every fuel invoice should specifically and legibly state the percentage of ethanol in the petrol sold.

“Order respondents (the Center and others) to prepare and publish an official, public database of vehicle compatibility, searchable by manufacturer, model, engine type and year of manufacture, indicating the suitability or unsuitability of various ethanol blends for each vehicle within a specified period,” his plea reads.

It also sought the formation of an independent expert committee comprising representatives from the Ministries of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Road Transport and Highways, Bureau of Indian Standards and others, including independent automotive engineers, to examine and submit a public report on the actual compatibility of E20 vehicles within the existing fleet.

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According to the lawsuit, the committee should also submit a report on the impact on fuel efficiency, engine life and maintenance costs, warranties and insurance, the net environmental footprint, including tailpipe emissions and water use related to ethanol production, and food safety and feed abuse concerns allegedly stemming from the blending program.

The bench asked Goswami, who appeared in person, to raise his contentions in the apex court.

Why are there concerns about E20 fuel?

The E20 program is a key part of the government’s strategy to reduce oil imports, reduce emissions and promote the use of domestically produced biofuels.

However, the introduction of E20 fuel has raised concerns that older vehicles not specifically designed for E20 may experience compatibility issues, fuel system corrosion, and reduced fuel efficiency.

There are also concerns about the impact of E20 gasoline on vehicle mileage, with many reporting significant changes in vehicle mileage.

Read also | Consumers are lining up for premium gasoline as E20 concerns refuse to shut up

However, the government said that E20 gasoline alone cannot be responsible for the changes in mileage. “Range depends on more than fuel alone. Driving habits, traffic, vehicle maintenance, tire pressure and use of air conditioning all play a role,” the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said earlier.

Manufacturers are now increasingly introducing E20-compatible vehicles, but questions remain about the compatibility of vehicles sold before 2023.