Karnataka HC stays ban on Pepsi sale

A single bench judge of the Karnataka High Court, on Monday, stayed the state government's notification banning the sale of all Pepsi brand softdrinks in hospitals and government offices. But the ban will continue to be in force in schools and colleges.

Justice D V Shailendra Kumar, after hearing a petition from Pespico India Holdings, passed an interim order staying the ban on sale of Pepsi brand softdrinks. He adjourned further hearing into the petition to September 25.

Karnataka, on August 14, had banned the sale of the 11 brands of softdrinks, including those produced by Pepsico and Coca-Cola, in government offices, hospitals and educational institutes on the grounds that they contained pesticides beyond the permissible limits.

The government also filed cases against both Pepsico and Coca-Cola at the small causes court under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.