The Karnataka government today issued a notification withdrawing the ban order issued on August 14, 2006 prohibiting sale of carbonated beverages in government offices, hospitals, schools and colleges. With this notification the cola ban is completely lifted across the country.
Following the reports of contamination in carbonated beverages, by the Delhi-based NGO, Centre of Science and Environment (CSE) six states imposed complete or partial bans on cola sales in August 2006.
In September, a division bench of the Kerala High Court quashed the state government’s order banning the sale and production of Coca-Cola and Pepsi in Kerala. This was followed by a similar ruling in Uttar Pradesh.
While Karnataka was the last state government to have held on to the ban, the government notification settles the case.
The Karnataka government’s ban order was earlier challenged by PepsiCo in the High Court at Bangalore. By an interim order dated September 4, 2006 the High Court had stayed the operation of the ban order in respect of all premises, except schools.
"The court had asked certain clarifications from the state government. However, the state government produced a notification in the Court on December 15, 2006 whereby the ban order has been totally withdrawn," said a company statement from Pepsico. Karnataka state government officials could not be reached.
The ban on cola sales in August 2006 had reactions from even the US government. Then business leaders had warned about a potential fallout in investment in India. The cola ban had extended to six states in the country including Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Karnataka.
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