Supreme Court Adjourns Hearing in PepsiCo vs. State of West Bengal Case; Next Date Set for August 18

Supreme Court Adjourns High-Profile PepsiCo vs. West Bengal Case

New Delhi – The Supreme Court of India has scheduled the next hearing for a major legal battle involving PepsiCo India Holdings Private Limited and the State of West Bengal for August 18, 2025. The decision to adjourn was made by a division bench comprising Hon'ble Mr. Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Hon'ble Mr. Justice R. Mahadevan after a brief hearing on August 11, 2025.

Case Background

The matter, titled PEPSICO INDIA HOLDINGS PRIVATE LIMITED VS. STATE OF WEST BENGAL & ORS. , reached the Supreme Court via a Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging a final judgment from the High Court at Calcutta dated January 30, 2025. While the substantive details of the dispute were not deliberated in the day's proceedings, the case has attracted significant attention, evidenced by the sheer volume of associated legal filings.

A Complex Web of Petitions

The court's record of proceedings reveals the immense procedural complexity of the case. The primary petition filed by PepsiCo has been bundled with dozens of other SLPs and a multitude of Interlocutory Applications (IAs). These applications cover a wide range of procedural requests, including: - Impleadment and Intervention: Numerous parties have filed applications to join the proceedings. - Filing of Documents: Several requests were made for permission to file additional documents and facts. - Condonation of Delay: The court is also considering applications to excuse delays in filing various documents and petitions. - Exemptions: Many parties have sought exemption from the standard requirement of filing a certified copy of the lower court's impugned judgment.

A large consortium of senior advocates and lawyers, including Mr. Rakesh Dwivedi, Mr. Kalyan Bandopadhyay, Mr. Arvind Datar, and Mr. Tarun Gulati, appeared before the bench, representing the various petitioners and respondents involved in the consolidated matters.

Court's Order and Next Steps

After hearing the counsel present, the bench issued a succinct order: "List on 18.08.2025."

This adjournment indicates that the court will take up the extensive batch of petitions for a more detailed hearing on the newly scheduled date. The August 18 hearing is expected to address the numerous pending applications and potentially move towards arguments on the main legal questions at the heart of the dispute.