A petition was filed today in the Madras High Court asking it to direct the central and Tamil Nadu government to ban the manufacture and sale of Coca Cola and Pepsi in the state alleging that the soft drinks contained hazardous chemicals that are a detriment to public health. Admitting a petition filed by A C Rengasuwamy, a division bench comprising Justice S J Mohapadhaya and Justice F M Ibrahim Kallifulla, issued notices to the centre, state government and the soft drink makers asking them to file replies within two weeks. The bench, however, did not entertain an interim plea to order a ban on their manufacture and sale pending disposal of the petition. |