Kerala - Kochi   

Plea against cola ban: court wants to hear Advocate-General

Staff Reporter

Hearing on petitions adjourned to Thursday

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Monday admitted two writ petitions challenging the Government order banning the manufacture and sale of Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola.

When the petition came up before Justice S. Siri Jagan, counsel for Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Ltd. and Pepsico India Holdings Private Ltd. argued for a stay on the order.

The Government pleader said the Advocate-General was away in New Delhi, in connection with the self-financing colleges case, and would make his submission in response to the stay petition.

The court said it was not inclined to stay the order without hearing the Advocate-General.

The court adjourned the hearing on the petitions to Thursday.

The companies contended that the State Government had no power to impose a ban on the manufacture and sale of food articles under the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act. As per the provisions of the Act, it was the Union Government, which could frame rules for prohibiting the sale of any substance that might be injurious to health.

Panel to continue stir

Our Palakkad Staff Reporter writes:

The Plachimada Anti-Coca-Cola Agitation Committee said it would continue the agitation against the Plachimada plant.

The Government had banned only two brands of soft drinks. All other brands of Coca-Cola and Pepsi should be banned, committee patron Vilayodi Venugopal said at a press conference at Palakkad.

The Government had not addressed the issue of pollution, depletion of groundwater and other environment issues. The people affected should also get compensation from the Government.

A meeting of organisations supporting the agitation would be held at Plachimada on August 27 to chalk out the future course of protest.

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