New Delhi, Sept. 2 -- The Supreme Court has dismissed a PIL challenging the Centre's Ethanol Blending Programme, which mandates the sale of petrol blended with 20% ethanol (E20). The bench, led by Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, heard arguments that the policy adversely affects vehicles manufactured before April 2023, which are not compatible with E20 fuel.

Legal news portal Live Law reported that speaking on behalf of the petitioner, Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat explained that the plea was not against ethanol blending in general but rather for older cars to have the option of ethanol-free gasoline (E0). He highlighted a 2021 NITI Aayog report that warned of the lack of parallel options like E10 or E0 and a reduced...