Pepsi
withdraws petition
against CSE
PTI[
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2003 01:36:33 AM ]
NEW
DELHI: Softdrink major Pepsi today withdrew from the Delhi High Court
the petition filed by it challenging the controversial report of Centre
for Science and Environment (CSE) that colas in India contained high
level of pesticides saying the matter was being enquired by a joint
parliamentary committee (JPC) in which it has full faith.
The
petition was declared dismissed as withdrawn by Justice B D Ahmed, who
on August 11 had directed the government to perform laboratory tests
on the samples of Pepsi’s products stating that the issue concerns public
health.
However,
during the pendency of the petition, a JPC was constituted to probe
the issue, and government received the laboratory tests of the samples.
The
inquiry before the JPC is still pending and the concerned parties have
been given the opportunity to place before it relevant materials, documents
and submissions.
Maintaining
that it has great respect and full faith in the JPC and believes that
their submissions will be given due consideration by it, Pepsi in its
affidavit said. In view of the developments that have taken place since
filing of the petition, it would be in the interest of justice that
the petitioners (Pepsi) present their case before the JPC, the softdrinks
major added.
It
said under such circumstances, it would be appropriate to withdraw the
petition and to seek liberty to approach this court as and when the
need arises and none of the respondent would be prejudiced.
Pepsico
India Holdings Pvt Ltd and its bottler had filed a petition within three
days of CSE report, demanding independent evaluation of the damaging
report contending that the CSE laboratory has no accreditation and the
methods and process adopted in preparing the report was suspect.
.
