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India’s Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked an Ayurveda company co-founded by one of the country’s most popular yoga teachers from advertising traditional medicine aimed at treating some illnesses.
The order was issued amid an ongoing legal dispute between the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Patanjali Ayurveda. IMA accused consumer companies of neglecting other forms of conventional medicine.
In its argument, the IMA accused Patanjali of running a smear campaign against modern medicine and vaccinations, while at the same time accusing the company of offering “permanent solutions” to diseases such as blood pressure, asthma and diabetes. he claimed.
A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Asanuddin Amanullah issued a contempt notice to Patanjali for allegedly flouting a promise not to advertise its medicines.
The court slammed the Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying “the entire country has been fooled” and asked what action it would take on the complaint against Patanjali for publishing “misleading advertisements”.
The observation comes after senior advocate PS Patwalia, who appeared on behalf of IMA, alleged that the organization continues to run advertisements denying the efficacy of medicines, which are prohibited under India’s Narcotics and Magical Remedies Act. The announcement was made after warning the Supreme Court about the
Yoga guru Ramdev, co-founder of Patanjali, previously rejected the criticism and accused doctors of spreading propaganda against traditional medicine, which is hugely popular in India.
The court said Patanjali had breached a promise it made to judges last year in an ongoing case not to run ads that make “casual claims of medicinal benefits.”
The judges also asked Patanjali to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against it.
Ramdev has a huge fan following in India, where he offers ways to cure various ailments through yoga through his TV shows.
Patanjali, which sells personal care products and Ayurvedic medicines, has often faced the ire of doctors and activists who accuse it of making false claims about medicinal benefits.
In early 2021, India’s health minister accused Ramdev of mocking health workers and their role in the pandemic. He claimed that “hundreds of thousands of people have died after taking allopathic medicines” during the coronavirus crisis and criticized modern medicine as “stupid” and based on “bankrupt science”. did.
At the time, the Indian Medical Association, which represents 300,000 doctors, called for the yoga guru to be prosecuted under the Pandemic Emergency Act, citing a threat to public health. The then Health Minister Harsh Vardhan also criticized Ramdev, saying his comments were an “insult” to those on the front lines fighting the coronavirus.
This is particularly important as Vardhan himself witnessed the launch of Patanjali products, including Coronil, which was launched in 2020 as the world’s first “scientifically-based medicine” against the novel coronavirus. It was a major intervention.
That claim has since been disproven, forcing the manufacturer to change its marketing. The company continues to promote the product, a pill containing trace amounts of a blend of roots and herbs, as an “immunity booster.”
Senior advocate Vipin Sanghi, appearing on behalf of Patanjali, argued that as far as Ramdev is concerned, he is in an unfair position. Sun palm (ascetic). The court fixed the matter for further hearing on March 19.
Additional reporting by agency
