Centre rejects reports describing E20 ethanol programme as an 'experiment' before Supreme Court

New Delhi- The Office of the Attorney General (AG) of India has dismissed as false media reports claiming that the Centre described its Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, including the 20 per cent ethanol blending (E20) initiative, as an "ongoing experiment" during proceedings before the Supreme Court.

In an official clarification, the Attorney General's office said reports published on Tuesday had incorrectly attributed statements to Attorney General R. Venkataramani during the hearing of a special leave petition (SLP) filed by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) in the ethanol allocation case.

The clarification stated that reports claiming the government had described the E20 programme as an "ongoing experiment" and suggested its impact would become clear only next year were "completely false" and did not reflect the actual submissions made before the Supreme Court.

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The AG's office categorically stated that at no point during the hearing was the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme or the E20 initiative referred to as an experiment.

"It is clarified in explicit terms that any suggestion that the Government described the E20 programme before the Hon'ble Supreme Court as an 'experiment' is incorrect and does not represent the submissions made on behalf of the Union of India," the statement said.

According to the clarification, Attorney General R. Venkataramani informed the court that several writ petitions involving similar issues related to ethanol allocation for dedicated ethanol plants were pending before different High Courts.

The Centre submitted that transfer petitions were being filed before the Supreme Court to have all such cases heard together, thereby ensuring uniform interpretation of the law, avoiding parallel proceedings and preventing conflicting judicial rulings.

The AG's office added that consolidating the cases would also help ensure the timely resolution of litigation so that ethanol supplies to oil marketing companies remain uninterrupted under the national Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme, which aims to maintain 20 per cent ethanol blending with petrol.

After hearing the submissions, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to file the proposed transfer petitions and ordered that the status quo on ethanol allocation for the current Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26 be maintained while hearing BPCL's appeal against a Karnataka High Court order directing reconsideration of ethanol allocation to VINP Distilleries and Sugars Pvt. Ltd.

The Attorney General's office also urged media organisations to report court proceedings accurately, particularly in matters involving significant national policy initiatives.

With inputs from IANS