Leader Online Desk : “We are not blind. We refuse to accept the apology,” the Supreme Court today (April 10) once again reprimanded yoga guru Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurveda Limited's MD Acharya Balkrishna. The duo apologized to the Supreme Court for the advertisements that made big claims about their products. The Supreme Court has also said that it is not satisfied with the central government's response in this matter. The next hearing in this case will be held on April 16.
Adv. Rohatgi read the affidavit
In the Patanjali misleading advertisement case, senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi read out the affidavit of yoga guru Baba Ramdev before a bench of the Supreme Court, in which he said that he apologized unconditionally for the advertisement issue.
…. This is a deliberate violation of the order
A bench of Supreme Court comprising Justice Hima Kohli and Justice A Amanullah said that it did not think it appropriate to send the affidavits to us till the matter comes up in court. He first sent an apology to the media. This apology was not uploaded for us till 7.30 pm yesterday (April 9). They (Ramdev and Balakrishna) clearly believe in propaganda. “We are not blind. An apology is only on paper. We refuse to accept this, we consider it a deliberate violation of the order. The court also ordered that all the officers holding the posts of District Ayurvedic and Unani Officers since 2018 should file their answers on the action taken by them.
Patanjali's misleading ads case: Supreme Court orders that all the officers who held posts as district Ayurvedic and Unani officers from 2018 till now shall file replies on actions taken by them.
— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2024
Supreme Court posts for April 16 case relating for misleading advertisements by Patanjali.
— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2024
Even before this. The Supreme Court had reprimanded yoga guru Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna, MD of Patanjali Ayurveda for not filing proper affidavits and disregarding rules.
Patanjali and Acharya Balkrishna did not respond to the court's notice and the Supreme Court said it was in complete contempt. The Supreme Court had also made it clear that not only the Supreme Court, but every order given by the courts across the country should be respected.
Giving a last chance, the Supreme Court had asked Ramdev and Balkrishna to file fresh affidavits within a week. Along with this, the bench fixed the date of April 10 for the next hearing of the case. Also both have been directed to appear on the next hearing day.
what is the matter
Patanjali claimed in its advertisement that yoga could 'completely cure' asthma and diabetes. A petition was filed against this advertisement in November 2023 last year by senior advocate PS Patwalia of the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The Supreme Court had directed the Center to issue consultations and guidelines on misleading advertisements. In the hearing held on November 21, 2023, the lawyer representing the company had assured the Supreme Court that there would be no further violation of the law.
What is the charge of IMA?
The IMA alleged that Patanjali ran a smear campaign against the Covid-19 vaccination. The court had warned that the false and misleading advertisements of Patanjali Ayurveda should be stopped immediately. A fine of up to one crore rupees was envisaged for each product falsely claiming to treat certain diseases. Baba Ramdev, who is facing criminal cases filed by the IMA for his controversial comments on allopathic pharmaceuticals during the Covid-19 pandemic, had moved the Supreme Court to quash the cases.