Kerala HC issues notice to state govt on Cola ban

Kochi, Aug 21 (UNI) The Kerala High Court today issued a notice to the state government on the writ petitions challenging the ban imposed by the government on the manufacture and sale of Coca Cola and Pepsi in the state.

However, Justice S Siri Jagan did not grant an interim stay on the ban order.

The court adjourned further hearing on the writ petitions filed by Hindustan Coca Cola Bevarages Ltd and PepsiCo Holdings Ltd till August 24.

The government pleader submitted before the court that the Advocate General had some inconvenience to address the court on the matter till Thursday.

Separate petitions were filed by the two companies on August 18, seeking to set aside the ban order issued by the government on August 11 in pursuance of the cabinet decision of August 10.

The Kerala Government and the Director of Health Services, in exercise of power under section 7 (iv) of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, had banned the production and sale of Coca Cola and Pepsi with immediate effect for an indefinite period.

The order was passed on the basis of the New Delhi-based NGO Centre for Science and Environment dated August two, stating that the colas contained pesticides beyond permissible limits.

UNI MA ROY RL KN1358