Today, Yoga guru Ramdev and his partner Balkrishna appeared in the Supreme Court because of a contempt case against their company, Patanjali Ayurved. The court was upset because of Patanjali’s Misleading ads, especially those claiming to cure COVID-19, which they discussed during the previous hearing. They also criticized the Uttarakhand government for not taking action against Patanjali.
During the hearing, Justices Hima Kohli and A Amanullah acknowledged Ramdev and Balkrishna’s contributions to yoga but still insisted on a public apology. Ramdev clarified that he never intended to disrespect the court. The Supreme Court granted them a week to issue the public apology, emphasizing that they are not getting away easily. The next hearing is scheduled for April 23, and both Ramdev and Balkrishna are required to attend.
Supreme Court on Misleading Patanjali Advertisements
The Supreme Court listened to a case brought by the Indian Medical Association against Patanjali. The association accused Patanjali of promoting its products under Ayush while putting down modern medicine. The Supreme Court recognized their right to advertise but criticized how Patanjali advertisements talked about other medical practices. They advised Patanjali to focus on their work without belittling others.
During the hearing, Ramdev apologized, saying, “I’m sorry. We won’t repeat this mistake.” Balkrishna also expressed regret, stating, “We didn’t mean to do wrong; it was unintentional.”
The judges pointed out that this issue had been ongoing since November, and the latest ad was in February.
Indian Medical Association’s Concerns on Ayush Advertisements
In August 2022, the Indian Medical Association filed a petition urging the government and authorities like ASCI and CCPA to tackle ads favouring Ayush over modern medicine. They were worried about false information undermining modern medicine, especially from Patanjali.
The petition pointed out that these claims went against laws like the Drugs & Other Magic Remedies Act of 1954 and the Consumer Protection Act of 2019. It also mentioned Ramdev’s controversial comments during the pandemic’s second wave.
Supreme Court’s Actions Against Patanjali
On November 21, 2023, the Supreme Court criticized Patanjali for spreading misleading ads against modern medicine and warned of a ₹1 crore fine if they continued.
Despite this warning, Patanjali denied any misleading claims in a statement the next day. However, on February 27, 2024, the court issued a contempt notice to Ramdev and Balkrishna for persisting in misleading ads. They were barred from promoting products with unproven health claims and from criticizing any medical system.
On March 19, they were asked to appear in court for the contempt proceedings. In an April 2 hearing, the court rejected their apology and criticized authorities for not taking action.
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