Kerala HC reserves orders on ban on Coke, Pepsi

Kochi, Sep 12 (UNI) The Kerala High Court today reserved its judgement on writ petitions filed by Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages and Pepsico Holdings India challenging the ban on Coca-Cola and Pepsi in the state.

The submissions of the cola companies and the state government concluded this evening before a division bench comprising of Chief Justice V K Bali and Justice M Ramachandran.

In their arguments, Coke and Pepsi contended that the state government had no power to ban the soft drinks under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.

''If at all it was found that a food article is adulterated, the course of action available to the government is to prosecute the producers,'' they said.

They also sumitted that the samples were not collected as contemplated under the law. ''Hasty action, taken by the government relying on a study by a Delhi-based NGO without authentication, was arbitrary,'' the companies added.

The government contended that the ban was imposed to safeguard the interest of the public at large and the state had the power to impose a ban in public interest.

The Perumatty Panchayat and the People's Forum for Natural Justice, which are also impleaded in the case, supported the stand of the government.

UNI XR ARC PKS BS1921