The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking mandatory disclosure of the ethanol content in petrol sold at fuel stations across the country.
A bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale said it was not inclined to entertain the petition under Article 32 of the Constitution, which allows citizens to directly approach the Supreme Court for enforcement of fundamental rights.
The bench, however, gave petitioner Narendra Kumar Goswami the option of approaching the appropriate jurisdictional High Court with his demands.
PIL Seeks Clear Ethanol Labelling at Fuel Stations
Goswami, who appeared before the court in person, argued that consumers should be clearly informed about the composition of the petrol they purchase.
He told the bench: “Not only me but citizens at large should be informed about the composition of the fuel given to them.”
The petitioner had sought directions requiring oil companies and fuel stations to display the exact percentage of ethanol in petrol on every dispensing nozzle.
He also wanted fuel bills and invoices to clearly mention the ethanol percentage in the petrol sold to customers.
Centre Calls Petition ‘Proxy Litigation’
Attorney General R Venkataramani, representing the Centre, opposed the plea and argued that the matter was essentially a form of proxy litigation.
The Attorney General told the court: “The petitioner wants government of India to be answerable to him.”
He also pointed out that a petition involving a similar issue had previously been dismissed by the Supreme Court.
After hearing the submissions, the bench declined to entertain Goswami’s plea under Article 32 and directed him towards the jurisdictional High Court.
Petitioner Seeks Vehicle-Wise Ethanol Compatibility Database
The petition went beyond labelling requirements and sought the creation of an official vehicle-wise ethanol compatibility database.
According to the plea, the proposed database should allow vehicle owners to check compatibility based on the manufacturer, model, engine type and year of manufacture.
The petitioner has also called for an independent expert committee involving representatives from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Bureau of Indian Standards, automobile engineers and other experts.
E20 Fuel Impact Also Raised
The plea sought a detailed assessment of the impact of E20 petrol on vehicles currently operating in India.
Among the issues raised were possible effects on fuel efficiency, engine life, maintenance expenses, warranties and insurance.
The petitioner also sought an examination of the wider environmental impact of ethanol blending, including tailpipe emissions and water use during ethanol production.
Concerns relating to food security and the diversion of agricultural resources towards ethanol production were also included in the petition.
For now, the Supreme Court has not examined the merits of these demands. Goswami can pursue the matter before the appropriate High Court.
