SC reprimands Centre for not implementing law against ads

New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) The Supreme Court today pulled up the Centre for not implementing the law aimed at checking misleading advertisements as well as making it mandatory for soft drink companies like Pepsi and Coca Cola to display the content of their products on the bottom.

A bench comprising Justices AK Mathur and Dalveer Bhandari directed the Union Government to file a detailed affidavit giving reasons for not notifying Food Safety and Standards Act which has been passed by both Houses of Parliament and has also received Presidential assent.

Earlier, Prashant Bhushan, counsel for the petitioner, Centre for Public Interest Litigation, contended before the court that the government was deliberately avoiding the implementation of the law may be under the influence of multinationals soft drinks majors who have been opposing any direction or law which may force them to display the contents of their soft drinks .

According to the petitioner, the chemicals used in the soft drinks are extremely harmful for the health of the consumer majority of whom are children.The petitioner have also been demanding from the soft drink companies to reveal the use of pesticides as well as contaminated water.

The petitioner also suggested the names of eminent scientist like Professor Yashpal,Former chairman of ISRO(Indian Space Research Organisation), University Grant Commission and another scientist PM Bharagava in the expert committee for examining the issue of the use of pesticide and chemicals harmful for human health in the soft drinks.

The court adjourned the hearing till September 5.

UNI