Friday, September 22 2006 14:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kochi: Kerala High Court today (Sept 22,2006)quashed the State Government's order banning production and sale of Coca Cola and Pepsi in the state.

The order in this regard was issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice V K Bali and Justice M Ramachandran on petitions filed by Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Ltd and Pepsi India Holding Private Ltd challenging the ban.

The bench upheld the contention of the two soft drink companies that the state government had no jurisdiction to impose a ban on manufacture and sale of their products.

Kerala government had last month banned the products after Delhi-based NGO Centre for Science and Environment allegedly found pesticide residues in various soft drinks of the two companies.