The Supreme Court of India has refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought directions for the mandatory disclosure of ethanol content in petrol at fuel stations. The petition, filed by advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami, aimed to ensure that consumers are informed about the exact percentage of ethanol blended into petrol, particularly E20 fuel.
Petition Sought Clear Disclosure and Vehicle Compatibility Data
The core demands of the petition included a mandate for petrol pumps to clearly label the precise ethanol percentage on every dispensing nozzle and to print this information on all fuel invoices, receipts, or bills. Beyond mere disclosure, Goswami's plea also raised significant concerns regarding vehicle compatibility with E20 fuel, asking for directions to assess its impact across the existing fleet of vehicles.
The petitioner further requested the establishment of an independent expert committee. This committee, comprising representatives from relevant ministries (Petroleum and Natural Gas, Road Transport and Highways), the Bureau of Indian Standards, and independent automobile engineers, would be tasked with examining and publishing a report on real-world vehicle compatibility. Additionally, a public database searchable by vehicle manufacturer, model, engine type, and year of manufacture was sought, indicating suitability for various ethanol blends.
Supreme Court Directs Petitioner to High Court
A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale dismissed the PIL, stating they were not inclined to entertain the petition under Article 32 of the Constitution, which allows direct access to the Supreme Court. The bench granted liberty to Goswami to approach the concerned or jurisdictional High Court for relief, suggesting that the matter should first be raised with a competent authority at a lower judicial level.
Attorney General R Venkataramani, representing the Centre, contended that the matter was a 'proxy litigation' and noted that a similar issue had previously been dismissed by the court. He argued that the petitioner essentially sought to make the government answerable to him directly.
Consumer's Right to Know and Constitutional Questions
Narendra Kumar Goswami, who appeared in person, argued that citizens have a fundamental right to know the composition of the fuel they purchase. He asserted that his plea raised substantial questions of law, including whether the right to life and personal liberty (Article 21) encompasses a consumer's right to know the precise ethanol content and its compatibility with their vehicle.
The petition also questioned whether the compulsory sale of E20 without lower-ethanol alternatives for pre-E20 vehicles violated Articles 14 (equality before law) and 300A (right to property), and if the lack of pump-level and invoice-level disclosure violated the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, alongside Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. Goswami's plea emphatically stated that the State should not compel citizens to purchase chemically altered fuel without full disclosure and compatibility information.