The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Friday reserved its judgement on the issue of notification of the State Government banning 25 junk food items in plastic packaging and stay on ban would continue till the pronouncement of judgement.
The State Government on June 26, this year had banned junk food items namely chips, Kurkure, biscuits, noodles packaged in plastic or non-bio-degradable from sale or stocking with effect from July 1, in compliance to the orders of the High Court.
A division bench comprising Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice VK Sharma further directed that the interim order of stay on the notification for ban on said items will continue till the pronouncement of judgement of the court.
The High Court had earlier given first relief on April 1, on the request of State Government for three months and second and third relief was given on July 1 and September 3 on the request of different stakeholders seeking time to reply. The fourth and last relief was given on November 19 with court clearing that no further adjournment will be granted.
The court on Friday passed the orders on the petitions of Sanyukt Vyapar Mandal Khalini, Indian Biscuits Manufacturers Association NOIDA and Haroli Block Industries Associations, Tahliwal Una.
High Court had in its order dated January 10, 2013 directed the State Government to ban the said items in plastic packaging with effect from April 1, 2013, but had extended the time limit to implement the orders for three months on the request of the State Government citing far reaching consequences and multiple stakeholders.
The Government had said that additional time was required to evaluate the possible consequences that may arise as a result of ban on sale of identified food items and the aspects with respect to relocation of workers, the status of loans obtained by local units, machinery and infrastructure.