On December 18, 2025, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition asking for stricter limits on antimony and Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in packaged drinking water. The Bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, said the plea ignored India’s harsh water shortage, especially in rural areas. “Where is the drinking water in this country? People do not have drinking water. The quality of bottled water will come later on,” the Chief Justice said. Senior advocate Anita Shenoy argued that India’s current standards allow higher levels of these chemicals than the World Health Organization’s safe limits. She pointed out health risks including heart problems and organ damage linked to these substances. The petitioner, architect Sarang Vaman Yadvadkar, noted that India has the highest number of DEHP-related cardiovascular deaths globally. However, the Court emphasized that many Indians rely on groundwater and questioned if international standards could be applied realistically. It called the petition an “urban-centric” and “luxury litigation” issue and urged understanding of the country’s ground realities. The Court asked the petitioner to witness water scarcity firsthand before pushing stricter regulations. The plea targeted only packaged water safety, focusing on harmful substances leaching from plastic bottles. Despite health concerns, the Supreme Court did not direct FSSAI to revise its current permissible levels of antimony and DEHP in bottled water.