A division bench, comprising Justice J N Patel and Justice D D Sinha issued the order yesterday on a public interest petition filed by Dr Shantilal Kothari of the Academy of Nutrition Improvement, a local voluntary organisation.

The bench observed that since the counsels for both the state and central governments are yet to receive instructions before filing their replies to the application for a stay, ``we are inclined to grant interim relief in the terms of the prayer until further orders''.

Kothari, a social activist on health and food issues, had filed the PIL in 1992, when the state issued the ban order. When the central government also issued a similar order on November 27, 1997, the court suggested that the prayer be modified and it was done accordingly.

The petitioner then filed a fresh applicationon September 8, 1998, seeking an interim stay on the writ petition as both the governments had not filed any counters, keeping the case pending for six years.