SC to hear dispute between Pepsico and BIS over Aquafina

A bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma have directed to list the matter for final hearing.

The apex court's direction came over the cross appeals filed by Pepsico India and BIS against the order of the Delhi High Court.

On November 21, 2008, the court had directed Pespsico to remove pictures of snow capped mountain from the label of Aquafina and to use words as per BIS guidelines.

"We direct the respondent no 1 (Pepsico) to remove the pictorial device snow-capped mountains from the label of the article Aquafina within six months from today and also add the phrase as per BIS standards to its label after the phrase purity guaranteed," had said the high court in its order.

Rejecting the plea of Pepsico, the high court had said that the beverage major, "cannot escape the obligations as prescribed by the provisions of the Act and the specifications framed thereunder".

Over pictures of snow-capped mountain on the Acquafina bottles, the court had said, "it suggests the packaged mineral water being manufactured and marketed by Pepsico has its origin in the mountains which creates a misleading impression in the mind of the purchasing public".

However, the high court held that use of word "purity guaranteed does not contravene any provision of BIS Act or PFA Rules".

The order has been challenged by both Pepsico and BIS before the Supreme Court.