New Delhi, Dec 22 (IANS): The Delhi High Court Wednesday sought the central government's response on a petition filed by students of a private school in south Delhi seeking a ban on the sale of junk food and carbonated drinks within 1,500 feet radius of their institution.

The division bench of Acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice R.S. Endlaw also asked the government to file a status report after its counsel said it had asked all the states to take adequate measure in this regard and various states had sent their action-taken-report on the issue.

In a case related to a plea by non-profit organisation Uday Foundation for ban on sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around schools, the students of Father Agnel School in Gautam Nagar sought to be made a party.

The petition said: "Ban such evidently harmful foods and beverages from the canteen of schools and from their immediate neighbourhood."

The court also asked the government to come out with suggestions on the issue. The case would be heard next Jan 4, 2012.

The students said due to junk food the students will end up with obesity and other lifestyle disease which will cost the nation heavily.