The Supreme Court of India has declined to entertain a Public Interest Litigation seeking mandatory display of ethanol blending percentages on petrol pump nozzles and purchase receipts across the nation. A division bench comprising Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B. Varale disposed of the petition, granting the petitioner liberty to approach the appropriate High Court to seek remedies. The plea requested directives to mandate fuel stations and oil marketing companies to clearly disclose the exact proportion of ethanol mixed with petrol on both dispensing nozzles and printed or digital customer invoices.
Objections Raised by the Attorney General and Court Proceedings
During the proceedings, the Attorney General raised strong objections to the petition's maintainability and framing, terming it a proxy petition. The top law officer informed the bench that the apex court had already dismissed a substantially similar petition in the previous year. Countering the objections, advocate and petitioner Narendra Kumar Goswami argued that the lack of disclosure directly impinges upon the fundamental rights of consumers. To substantiate the plea, the petitioner presented a petrol bill before the court, pointing out that it contained no indication of the ethanol blending level. Goswami emphasized that fuel buyers have a legitimate right to know the precise composition of the fuel they purchase for their vehicles.
Key Prayers Concerning Fuel Dispensing Nozzles and Customer Invoices
The petition primarily centered on ensuring transparency at retail fuel outlets. It urged the court to direct authorities to prominently mark the exact ethanol blend percentage on every fuel dispensing nozzle. Furthermore, the petition sought a mandate requiring all invoices, bills, and receipts issued to buyers to explicitly state the percentage of ethanol blended into the petrol. According to the petitioner, displaying this information on nozzles and billing slips is essential for consumers to verify whether the fuel meets the required standards for their specific vehicles.
Proposed Compatibility Database and Provisions for Older Vehicles
To protect vehicle owners from potential engine damage, the petition highlighted the need for a comprehensive public vehicle compatibility database. This registry would organize data by vehicle manufacturer, specific model, engine specification, and year of manufacture, enabling consumers to check if their vehicle is compatible with E20 or other blended fuels. Additionally, the plea called for a structured transition framework for older automobiles that are not engineered to run on E20 petrol. It suggested that in areas where technically and economically viable, oil companies should continue offering petrol with lower ethanol concentration options to protect unsuited engines.
Call for an Expert Panel and Mandatory Public Disclosures
Another major demand in the petition was the setup of an independent expert committee to evaluate the comprehensive impact of E20 fuel on existing vehicles. The petitioner proposed that this committee analyze parameters such as fuel economy, engine durability, long-term maintenance costs, vehicle warranty claims, and insurance coverage. Beyond vehicular impact, the plea emphasized assessing the broader environmental consequences of ethanol production, including intensive water usage and potential risks to food security. Finally, the petition requested that the government publish all underlying policy papers, technical studies, vehicle compatibility assessments, and consumer advisories related to the mandatory E20 rollout.
