SC issues contempt notice to Patanjali for misleading ads

In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has issued a contempt notice to Yoga guru Ramdev‘s owned company, Patanjali Ayurveda, and its managing director, Acharya Balkrishana. The notice was issued for violating the court’s order against misleading advertisements of its products. The court has taken a stern stand by restraining Patanjali from advertising its medical products until further notice.

The Supreme Court took cognizance of the matter while hearing a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) concerning ‘misinformation against Allopathy.’ During the proceedings, Justice Amanullah emphasised, “Misleading advertisements cannot be tolerated at all.” Senior advocate PS Patwalia, representing the IMA, brought to the court’s attention that Patanjali had claimed to ‘completely cure’ diabetes and asthma through yoga.

This is not the first instance of legal action against Patanjali and its affiliates. In November of last year, in response to a petition filed by the IMA, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to hold consultations and provide recommendations to address misleading advertisements. The court warned, “All false and misleading advertisements of Patanjali Ayurved have to stop immediately. This court will take such infractions very seriously, and will consider imposing costs of up to Rs 1 crore on every product regarding which a false claim is made that it can cure a particular disease.”

Yoga guru Ramdev, facing multiple criminal cases lodged by the IMA for controversial remarks against allopathic medicines during the COVID-19 pandemic, approached the Supreme Court seeking relief. On October 9, the apex court issued notices to the Centre and the Association on his plea for quashing the cases. Ramdev has been booked under Sections 188, 269, and 504 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The IMA’s complaint alleges that Ramdev propagated false information on social media against medicines used by the medical fraternity.

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