Finding adulteration in petrol and diesel to be a rampant menace in the country, the Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre whether technology can provide a solution as it mooted the idea of sensors attached to fuel vending machines that can detect adulterated fuel and make sale of such fuel non-functional.
Issuing notice to the Union Petroleum Ministry on a PIl filed by a former BSP MP from Uttar Pradesh, Seema Upadhyay, the bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur took the issue head on by granting four weeks to the Centre to detail steps taken to prevent adulteration of petrol and diesel at fuel outlets in rural and urban areas.
Upadhyay alleged that organised gangs operate in this business and make substantial profits. She cited an instance where a MlA from Uttar Pradesh was indulging in such an exercise of adulteration by mixing kerosene with petrol and diesel. The politician who belongs from Hathras District also owns several benami petrol pumps. The bench directed the Centre to appoint a Joint Secretary-level officer to inquire into this complaint and report to the Court by the next date.
The petitioner complained to the Court that she had raised the issue in Parliament on several occasions but there has been no effective response from the Government to address the concern.