SC stays class suit action against Nestle – The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed proceedings against Nestle India, maker of the Maggi brand of instant noodles, in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).
Justices Prafulla C Pant and Dipak Misra directed that fresh testing of Maggi samples would be conducted in the government-accredited lab in Mysore and not in Chennai as directed by the Commission. Agreeing to settle the controversy, the court directed that all laboratory reports on Maggi samples be placed before it.
Challenging the order of the Commission, senior advocate Harish Slave, appearing for Nestle, argued that NCDRC should not have entertained the Centre’s plea as the matter was pending before the Bombay High Court.
There was nothing wrong in the NCDRC order and the government approached the forum as it was bound to protect the interests of the consumers in the country, attorney general Mukul Rohatgi said.
While hearing a class action suit filed by the government against Nestle, the consumer court on December 9 ordered tests on 16 additional samples of Maggi noodles by designated labs. The Commission directed that all testing be completed by the next hearing on January 11.