NEW DELHI: SC Tuesday ordered status quo with regard to ethanol supply allocation for the ethanol supply year 2025-26 after attorney general R Venkataramani argued that 20% blending is a national policy.

Abench of Justices M M Sundresh and Sheel Nagu passed the order on a plea of Bharat Petroleum challenging a Karnataka HC order which had directed various oil marketing companies to consider and decide a representation submitted by a distillery seeking enhancement of ethanol allocation for 2025-26. Venkataramani, appearing for BP, submitted that HC order could destabilise the national policy for 20% ethanol-petrol blending.

He urged SC to have all matters pertaining to the issue transferred to the court as adjudication of similar petitions were pending in Bombay and Patna HCs. The AG said that ethanol supply contracts were finalised in Oct 2025 itself and several petitions were pending in various HCs. He sought a week’s time to file transfer petitions. The HC had passed the order on the plea of one M/S Vinp Distilleries and Sugar Private Limited, a dedicated ethanol manufacturer, which approached the court challenging reduced allocation of ethanol supply.