Yoga guru Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved MD Acharya Balkrishna appeared in the Supreme Court on April 2 in a contempt case initiated against the firm for publishing misleading advertisements in violation of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 despite an undertaking given to the court in November last year.
“You should have made sure affidavit is filed in pursuance of your solemn undertakings,” the court told Ramdev and Patanjali MD.
A Bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah had issued a show cause notice to Baba Ramdev to file his response against initiating contempt proceedings against him.
On November 21, 2023, the court had directed the company to not make any “casual statements” to the print or electronic media about the efficacy of their medicinal products or indulge in any disparaging statements about other disciplines of medicine such as allopathy.
However, a press conference was held by Baba Ramdev, on November 22, the very next day of the Supreme Court order. In the February hearing, the petitioner, Indian Medical Association, had described Baba Ramdev’s association with Patanjali as “everything and nothing at the same time”.
“In November, we had specifically said there should be no violation of any law. That means that there should be nothing misleading, especially advertisements of drugs manufactured and marketed by you. We told you to not make any casual statements… But you are still advertising your products as a ‘permanent relief’. There was a ban on you advertising your products as a permanent relief for ailments under the 1954 Act,” Justice Kohli had told Patanjali’s lawyers at the time.
(With THB inputs)