The government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the E20 fuel programme of blending 20 per cent ethanol with petrol is still an ongoing experiment and that the impact of the policy is expected to become clearer by next year.The submission came during a hearing on a plea filed by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), which challenged the June 16 Karnataka High Court order relating to ethanol allocation for the 2025-26 ethanol supply year.Appearing for BPCL, Attorney General R Venkataramani argued that any judicial intervention in the allocation process at this stage could unsettle the government’s national ethanol blending policy.The Supreme Court, meanwhile, directed the parties to maintain status quo on the Karnataka HC order while issuing notice on BPCL’s appeal.“Issue notice… List on reopening (after summer vacation)… Till the next date of hearing, there shall be status quo,” a Bench of Justice MM Jattvibedresh and Justice Sheel Nagu said.It meant that the existing allocation process would remain undisturbed for the time being.Venkataramani contended that the high court’s direction to reconsider the representation of VINP Distilleries and Sugars Pvt Ltd seeking enhancement of its ethanol allocation could destabilise the Centre’s ethanol blending policy and disrupt the ongoing procurement process.He argued that ethanol supply contracts for ESY 2025-26 were finalised in October last year and supplies under the contracts were already underway.He maintained that the E20 fuel programme, aimed at strengthening India’s energy security, boosting farmers’ incomes and reducing carbon emissions, was still evolving. He added that it was a policy matter to be decided by the government.No company could claim a legal entitlement to a higher ethanol quota and that judicial directions effectively altering the allocation methodology would amount to interference with the government’s policy on ethanol blending, he said.In its June 16 order, the Karnataka High Court directed BPCL, the Indian Oil Corporation and the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation to consider VINP Distilleries’ representation seeking enhancement of its ethanol allocation for ESY 2025-26 under the long-term off-take agreement executed with oil marketing companies.