Supreme Court Maintains Status Quo on Ethanol Supply Allocation for 2025-26 Amid Legal Dispute The Supreme Court of India has directed that the current ethanol supply allocation for the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025–26 remain in place, effectively halting a recent order from the Karnataka High Court. The decision was issued by a bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Sheel Nagu, following arguments from the Attorney General of India, R Venkataramani, representing Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), and Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, who defended the petitioners. The court’s order to maintain the status quo was prompted by concerns over the potential disruption to the national policy for blending 20% ethanol with petrol. The dispute originated from a petition filed by M/S Vinp Distilleries and Sugar Private Limited, a dedicated ethanol manufacturer. The company argued that despite establishing a dedicated ethanol plant with an annual production capacity of approximately 9.90 crore litres, it was allocated only 3.92 crore litres for the ESY 2025–26. The distillery claimed its bid for 9.26 crore litres was overlooked, leading to a significant reduction in its allocated supply. The Karnataka High Court had previously ruled in favor of the petitioner, directing oil marketing companies (OMCs) to consider its representation and adjust the allocation. The Attorney General contested this order, asserting that the High Court’s directive could destabilize the national ethanol policy. He emphasized that ethanol supply contracts were finalized in October 2025, and several petitions were already pending in various High Courts.#supreme_court_of_india #bharat_petroleum_corporation_ltd #justice_mm_sundresh #justice_sheel_nagu #r_venkataramani
