New Delhi: The Supreme Court on April 10 rejected Patanjali Ayurveda co-founder Ramdev and managing director Acharya Balakrishnan’s second unconditional apology and pardon request in a contempt case linked to the company publishing misleading ads during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two are apologising only because they were caught out, the bench said.
“Having regard to entire history, we have expressed our reservations about accepting the latest affidavit filed. We have also pointed out that even after show cause notices, the proposed contemnors attempted to wriggle out of physical appearance. This is most unacceptable,” Justice Hima Kohli said in court, according to LiveLaw.
“Patanjali says their advertisements were to keep people connected with Ayurvedic medicines, as if they are the first ones in the world to come up with Ayurvedic medicines,” the judge stated.
The court also criticised the state authorities for their inaction. “State Licensing Authority has also filed a detailed affidavit trying to explain action taken regarding objectionable ads. We are appalled to note that except pushing file, nothing has been done,” Justice Kohli said. “In 4-5 years, State Licensing Authority remained in deep slumber. It is sought to be explained that concerned officer had taken over post in June, 2023. In our opinion, that is enough time for him to have acted. Predecessor is equally complicit.”
The court also accused Ramdev and Balakrishna of sending their affidavit to the media before the court. “Till the matter hit the Court, the contemnors did not find it fit to send us the affidavits. They sent it to the media first, till 7.30 pm yesterday it was not uploaded for us. They believe in publicity clearly,” Justice Kohli said, according to NDTV.
The court has been hearing a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association against ads issued by Patanjali that were attacking allopathy. Earlier, the apex court had refused to accept Ramdev and Balakrishnan’s first apology, calling it “mere lip service”, and also questioned the Union government for not acting against the company’s misleading claims during a public health crisis.
“I hereby tender my unconditional apology in regard to the issue of advertisements which occurred after the statement of counsel of respondent no. 5 (Patanjali) which was recorded in the order dated November 21, 2023, which I am informed has the force of an injunction,” Ramdev and Balakrishnan’s fresh affidavit read, according to India Today.
The matter is coming up for hearing in the Supreme Court again today, and the two have to be present in court on the court’s orders.
In a separate case, the Delhi high court in 2022 told Baba Ramdev not to “mislead” people against allopathy and not to make any claims beyond what authorities had stated about Patanjali’s product Coronil. The court took exception to Patanjali advertising it as a “cure” for COVID-19.
