Pioneer In Short
Gauhati HC flags illegal expulsions
The Gauhati High Court has directed the Assam Government to pay interim compensation of `2 lakh each to the families of two women who were declared non-citizens by a foreigners tribunal and expelled to Bangladesh without their families being informed or their legal remedies being exhausted. In separate September 3 orders, a division bench of Justices Kalyan Rai Surana and Susmita Phukan Khaund also impleaded the Ministry of External Affairs to facilitate the repatriation of Mumtaz Begum and Jahanara Begum and enable them to challenge the tribunal orders. The court said Article 21 protects life and personal liberty of non-citizens too, and found that both women were denied an opportunity to approach the High Court. It also criticised the Juria Foreigners Tribunal for allegedly delaying certified copies of its orders, calling the conduct a case of “malice in law”. Both women were detained after appearing before the tribunal following earlier High Court orders setting aside their declarations as foreigners. They were subsequently handed over to the BSF and sent to Bangladesh on the intervening night of June 13 and 14. The court ordered compensation within 60 days and directed authorities to inform declared non-citizens and their adult family members before detention and transfer. The cases will next be heard on September 24.
Govt eyes higher ethanol blending
The Government is working to allow ethanol blending beyond the current E20 level, with flexi-fuel vehicles expected to enable higher blends, Advisor to Prime Minister Tarun Kapoor said on Wednesday. Addressing the fourth edition of The India Sugar & Bio-Energy Conference 2026 virtually, Kapoor said the E20 programme had been “very successful,” and several automakers were planning to introduce flexi-fuel vehicles. He said the availability of pure ethanol at fuel outlets would also need to be expanded. Kapoor said the push for biofuels had gained urgency amid the West Asia crisis, which has disrupted supplies and driven crude oil prices towards USD 100 a barrel. He said India’s ethanol production capacity had exceeded blending requirements, making it necessary to develop additional uses for the surplus. Rejecting criticism of E20 blending, Kapoor said studies showed the fuel performed well, with higher octane content offsetting any marginal loss in fuel efficiency.
The Government is also exploring biofuel-based diesel additives, including isobutanol, and promoting compressed biogas under the GOBARdhan scheme. Kapoor urged ethanol producers to diversify into CBG and other value-added products such as potash. He said the Government remained committed to biofuels and would ensure policy certainty for existing investments.
