Patanjali (img: IANS)

Today the Supreme Court issued contempt notice to Patanjali Ayurved and its managing director (MD), Acharya Balakrishna, over continued publication of misleading advertisements.

Observing that Patanjali has, prima facie, violated the undertaking given to the apex court in November last year, a bench headed by Justice Hima Kohli asked the ayurvedic company to not issue any misleading advertisement or statement till the next date of listing.

The bench, also comprising Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, was hearing a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) seeking action against Patanjali.

The matter will be heard next on Mar 19.

Patanjali had earlier assured the top court that it will not make any causal statements claiming medicinal efficacy of its product or advertise or brand them in violation of law.

It also undertook that the company will not release any statement against any system of medicine to the media in any form.

Court’s heavy remarks against Patanjali

Justice Amanullah, while hearing the case in the morning, reprimanded Patanjali stating, “You had the courage and guts to come up with this advertisement after the order of this Court! And then you come up with this advertisement. Permanent relief, what do you mean by permanent relief? Is it a cure?...we are going to pass a very, very strict order.”

Baba Ramdev, who was displayed in a newspaper advertisement over the disputed claim, was defended with an argument that “he is a Sanyasi”. To which, the bench stated, “We are not bothered by that, by who he is...there is a prima facie flouting. They were aware of the order.”

“All such false and misleading advertisements of Patanjali Ayurved have to stop  immediately. The Court will take any such infraction very seriously, and the Court will also consider imposing costs to the extent of ₹1 cr on every  product regarding which a false claim is made that it can ‘cure’ a particular disease,” he said.

Baba Ramdev’s controversial comments

Multiple FIRs were filed against the yog guru Ramdev across several states over his controversial comments against allopathic treatment of COVID-19.

In a video, Ramdev had said, “More people have died due to allopathic medicines than due to lack of medical oxygen or shortage of beds.”

He withdrew his comments the next day after receiving a strongly-worded letter from then union health minister Harsh Vardhan, who termed his remarks as “inappropriate”.

(Source: IANS)

- Edited for style

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