The Attorney General of India, R Venkataramani, has firmly dismissed recent media allegations suggesting that the government’s E20 fuel initiative was described as an ‘experiment’ in the Supreme Court. On June 30, the Attorney General’s office clarified that such claims are baseless and misrepresent the government’s stance.
Several media outlets had reported that the Attorney General informed the Supreme Court that the government’s strategy to achieve 20% ethanol blending in petrol was still being tested, with its effects to be fully understood in the coming year. These reports inaccurately attributed such statements to the Attorney General during a hearing concerning an ethanol allocation dispute.
The AG’s office, however, categorically denied these reports, labeling them as ‘completely false’. The clarification emphasized that at no point during the proceedings was the E20 blending initiative referred to as an ‘experiment’. It was stressed that any portrayal of the program as such does not align with the actual submissions made on behalf of the Union of India.
Details of the Supreme Court Proceedings
This clarification arose from a Supreme Court session on June 30, where Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) contested a Karnataka High Court ruling. The High Court had previously instructed oil marketing companies to reassess ethanol allocations for the 2025-26 supply year.
During the session, the Attorney General highlighted that similar cases concerning ethanol allocation to Dedicated Ethanol Plants are pending across various High Courts. He proposed filing transfer petitions in the Supreme Court to consolidate these cases, aiming for a unified resolution that would eliminate the risk of conflicting judgments.
More Read
The Attorney General underscored the importance of promptly resolving these legal disputes to ensure uninterrupted ethanol supply to oil marketing companies. This is crucial for maintaining the government’s goal of achieving a 20% ethanol mix in petrol as part of the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme.
Supreme Court’s Interim Order
In light of BPCL’s concerns about the potential impact on the E20 fuel program, the Supreme Court ordered a status quo on the Karnataka High Court’s decision to revisit ethanol allocations. This order aims to prevent any disruption to the E20 fuel initiative pending further legal deliberations.
The Attorney General’s office concluded its statement by urging media personnel to ensure accurate reporting of court proceedings, especially when they pertain to significant national policy agendas.
