HC asks Bottle manufacturers to print contact info on bottles

The Hyderabad High Court on Monday felt that the lawmakers have to keep in mind the fate of citizens who have been consuming bottled water manufactured by multinational companies while making laws and regulations.A division bench comprising Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice S.V. Bhatt reserved orders on an appeal by the Legal Metrology department challenging an order of the single judge  for releasing Kinley brand of water bottles which were seized for not declaring the name and address of the contact person on the bottles facilitating the consumers to make their complaints.

The bench made it clear to the bottling companies that they have to print the details manufacturing company and also the details of the complaining authority on the bottles and sachets.

The legal metrology authorities in April this year have seized the stock of water bottles from M/s Himjal Beverages Private Limited at Medak district which manufacturer and supplier of the Kinley water bottles to the Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Ltd for not declaring the name and address of the contact person on the bottles.

Assistant solicitor general K. Lakshman told the court that it was mandatory for the manufacturers of packaged drinking water to declare the name and address of the contact person/office to be contacted for any consumer to make complaint.

Senior counsel appearing for respondent company A. Sudershan Reddy submitted that the company has been printing the toll-free number for consumers to make their complaints and also other details as the current law dictates.