Supreme Court Refuses Plea Seeking Ethanol Percentage Disclosure on Petrol Nozzles and Bills

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a petition seeking mandatory disclosure of the percentage of ethanol blended into petrol sold at fuel stations.

The petition sought directions requiring petrol pumps to prominently display the exact ethanol content on dispensing nozzles and print the same information on fuel bills and receipts.

A bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B Varale declined to entertain the petition filed by advocate N.K. Goswami. However, the court granted him liberty to approach the appropriate High Court with his grievances.

Petitioner Says Consumers Have a Right to Know

During the hearing, Goswami argued that consumers should have the right to know the composition of the fuel they are purchasing.

He pointed to petrol receipts and submitted that they currently do not mention the percentage of ethanol blended into the fuel.

The petitioner also referred to an earlier statement attributed to the Attorney General describing the ethanol-blending programme as an “experiment”. He noted that the government subsequently clarified that such a statement had not been made.

Goswami sought an assurance from the Centre regarding disclosure of ethanol content.

The Attorney General opposed the manner in which the petition was being pursued and questioned whether the government should be made answerable to the individual petitioner.

Goswami responded that his demand was intended to protect the rights of consumers generally and was not limited to his personal interests.

Supreme Court Declines to Entertain Petition

The Attorney General also described the matter as a “proxy petition” and pointed out that the Supreme Court had dismissed a similar plea in the previous year.

After hearing the submissions, the bench declined to entertain the petition.

The court, however, gave the petitioner the liberty to seek appropriate relief before the concerned High Court.

What Did the Petition Seek?

One of the principal demands was for authorities to require petrol stations to clearly display the exact ethanol percentage on every petrol dispensing nozzle.

The plea also sought mandatory disclosure of ethanol content on every fuel invoice, bill and receipt issued to consumers.

Another major demand was for a publicly accessible vehicle-compatibility database. The proposed database would allow consumers to check the suitability of different ethanol blends based on factors such as vehicle manufacturer, model, engine type and year of manufacture.

Demand for Protection of Older Vehicles

The petitioner also sought a transition framework for older vehicles and vehicles that may not be compatible with higher ethanol blends.

The plea proposed that lower-ethanol petrol should be considered for such vehicles where technically, economically and logistically feasible.

The petition further sought the creation of an independent expert committee involving representatives from government departments, standards bodies, automobile research organisations, consumer groups, engineers, fuel experts and environmental and public-health specialists.

Questions Around E20 Petrol

The proposed expert committee was asked to examine several issues connected with the country's ethanol-blending programme.

These included the real-world compatibility of E20 petrol with India's existing vehicle fleet, potential effects on fuel efficiency, engine life and maintenance expenses, and possible implications for vehicle warranties and insurance.

The petition also sought examination of the environmental impact of ethanol production, including tail-pipe emissions and water consumption.

Concerns relating to food security and the diversion of agricultural resources towards ethanol production were also included among the proposed areas of review.

Request for Policy and Technical Records

The petition additionally sought directions requiring the government to place policy documents, technical studies, vehicle compatibility reports, safety standards, consumer advisories and records of public consultations relating to the rollout of E20 petrol before the court.

It also proposed a nationwide Consumer Disclosure Protocol for ethanol-blended petrol.

According to the plea, the protocol could be developed in consultation with the Central Consumer Protection Authority and the Bureau of Indian Standards.

With the Supreme Court declining to entertain the petition, the petitioner may now pursue the matter before the appropriate High Court.