The Kerala High Court Monday refused to stay the Kerala government's decision to ban the products of the soft drink giants Pepsi and Coke, Indo-Asian News Service reported Monday.

On Aug. 18, both the companies had, in separate petitions, challenged the ban imposed by the state government on aerated drinks.

Denying the stay, the court, however, admitted the petitions and posted them for further hearing Thursday.

The court said no further action could be taken until it hears the government version.

The Kerala government Aug. 9 decided to ban the manufacture and sale of soft drinks in the state after tests conducted by the New Delhi-based Center for Science and Environment showed high quantities of pesticides in 12 branded samples.

In their petitions, the cola giants pointed out that their products were safe and that no scientific studies had shown any harmful contents.

Both Pepsi and Coke have bottling plants in Palakkad district in the southern Indian state.

Source: Xinhua