New Delhi: The Supreme Court on April 10 ruled that Patanjali Ayurveda’s co-founder Ramdev and managing director Acharya Balakrishnan had published misleading advertisements during the coronavirus pandemic. His request for a second unconditional apology and pardon for contempt related to the company he posted was rejected. According to the bench, the two apologized only because they found out.
“Considering the entire history, we have expressed reservations in accepting the latest affidavit filed.We also noted that even after the show’s cause notice, the denounced candidates tried to recoil from their appearance. THis conduct is most unacceptable,” Justice Hima Kohli was quoted as saying in court. live low.
““Patanjali said their advertisements were aimed at associating people with Ayurvedic medicines as if they were the first in the world to invent Ayurvedic medicines,” the judge said.
The court also criticized state authorities for their inaction. “The State Licensing Authority has also filed a detailed affidavit attempting to explain the action taken regarding the objectionable advertisement. We are appalled that nothing has been done other than pushing the file.” said Judge Kohli. “For four or five years, state licensing authorities remained in a deep slumber. It is sought to explain that the officer in question assumed his post in June 2023, which in our opinion was sufficient time for him to take action.His predecessor is also complicit.”
The court also accused Ramdev and Balakrishna of sending affidavits to the media in court. “The accusers did not think it appropriate to send us their affidavits until this matter went to court. They first sent it to the media, but yesterday at 7 p.m. It was not uploaded till 30 minutes. They clearly believe the propaganda,” Justice Kohli said, according to NDTV.
The court is hearing a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association against an advertisement published by Patanjali attacking allopathy. Earlier, the Supreme Court had refused to accept Ramdev and Balakrishnan’s initial apologies as “mere lip service” and also criticized the company’s misleading claims during a public health crisis. It questioned the federal government for its failure to act.
“I would like to offer my unconditional apology for the advertising issue that arose after the statement of respondent no. I have heard that Article 5 (Patanjali) recorded in the Act has the effect of an injunction.” india today.
The matter will be heard again in the Supreme Court today, and both men must appear in court as ordered by the court.
In a separate case, the Delhi High Court in 2022 ordered Baba Ramdev not to make claims beyond those made by authorities about Patanjali’s product Coronil to avoid “misleading” people against allopathy. The court took exception to Patanjali’s promotion of it as a “cure” for COVID-19.
