Baba Ramdev likely to appear in Supreme Court today in misleading ads case
Yoga guru Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved managing director Acharya Balkrishna are likely to appear in person before the Supreme Court in the contempt proceedings related to the misleading advertisements case.
On March 19, the court asked Baba Ramdev to appear in person in two-weeks’ time. During a hearing in the case in February, the Supreme Court had pulled up Patanjali for failure in filing replies to the court’s notices on why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for prima facie violating the undertaking given to the court.
The Supreme Court had expressed resentment over Patanjali continuing to publish “false and misleading” advertisements on medicinal cures despite an undertaking that it would halt doing so.
A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah had also issued a notice to Ramdev to show cause why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him.
The top court had also directed Patanjali to stop all advertisements of its products that it claimed to treat ailments and disorders specified in the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
“How can you be in teeth of our orders?… We had our hands tied earlier but not now (with initiation of contempt proceedings),” the court had told senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for Patanjali Ayurved.
The top court made the remarks while hearing a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) seeking action against Baba Ramdev for criticising modern medicine.
After the Supreme Court rap, Patanjali Ayurved, in an affidavit, tendered an unconditional apology, stating that Patanjali’s intention was only to exhort the citizens of this country to lead a healthier life by using its products.
It further said that Patanjali’s quest was to reduce the burden on the country’s healthcare infrastructure by providing solutions for lifestyle related medical complications through Ayurveda.
In November 2023, the Supreme Court asked Patanjali Ayurved to stop misleading claims and advertisements against the modern system of medicine. Patanjali had assured the court that it would not make any statements or unsubstantiated claims.