(Image source from: PTI)
The highest court in the country, on Monday, threw out a case that questioned the country-wide introduction of petrol mixed with 20% ethanol (EBP-20). This decision means the government can continue with its plan to mix ethanol in petrol. A group of judges, headed by the top judge of India, B R Gavai, rejected the case. The case claimed that a large number of car and bike owners were being made to use E20 fuel, even though many vehicles on the road were not built to use it. The case asked for several instructions to be given, including: An order for the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to make sure petrol without ethanol is available at all gas stations. A requirement to clearly show how much ethanol is in the petrol at gas pumps, so it’s easy for customers to see.
Steps to tell customers if their vehicles can use ethanol fuel when they are getting gas.Orders for the Ministry of Consumer Affairs to make sure the rules are followed, based on the Consumer Protection Act of 2019. A study across the country to see how using E20 fuel affects vehicles that are not made for it, including damage and loss of efficiency, as well as how much E20 fuel is being sold. During the court hearing, a senior lawyer named Shadan Farasat, who was representing the person who brought the case, said that E20 petrol has become the only choice without any official announcement or information for the public.
He stated, "We are not against E20. We simply want to have other choices. "The main lawyer for the government disagreed with the case. He questioned why the case was brought, saying, "Who is the person bringing this case? There are powerful groups supporting this. "He stressed that the government carefully thought about the plan before introducing it and added, "Should someone from another country tell us what kind of petrol to use? "He also pointed out that sugarcane farmers benefit from mixing ethanol in petrol and warned against harming those benefits.In the end, the Court chose not to consider the case and dismissed it without giving any specific instructions.
