New Delhi: Yoga Guru Ramdev’s Patanjali tendered an apology to the Supreme Court following the apex court’s strong reaction toward Patanjali Ayurved’s failure to respond to a contempt notice regarding misleading advertisements. This resulted in summoning Ramdev and Balkrishna, who serves as the Managing Director of Patanjali Ayurved.
The affidavit was submitted on Wednesday, following the court’s stern rebuke towards Patanjali Ayurved for not responding to a contempt notice regarding misleading advertisements. Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah directed Balkrishna and Ramdev to appear in court on April 2.
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In the affidavit submitted to the court, Balkrishna expressed his utmost respect for the rule of law. Offering an “unconditional apology,” he stated that the company will take measures to ensure that such misleading advertisements are not released in the future.
Balkrishna clarified that the company’s intent is solely to encourage citizens to lead healthier lives by consuming Patanjali products, including those aimed at lifestyle ailments, based on ancient literature and materials supplemented by Ayurvedic research.
He also criticised the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, describing it as “outdated,” citing the lack of scientific evidence in Ayurveda research when the legislation was last updated. The affidavit asserted that Patanjali now possesses evidence-based scientific data, including clinical research in Ayurveda, demonstrating advancements made through scientific research in addressing diseases mentioned in the legislation.
“It is respectfully submitted that the Deponent’s sole aim is to promote a better and healthier life for all citizens and to alleviate the burden on the country’s healthcare infrastructure by providing holistic, evidence-based solutions for lifestyle-related medical complications through the application of traditional Ayurvedic and Yogic approaches,” the affidavit stated.
Founded in 2006 by Ramdev and Balkrishna, Patanjali Ayurved is a multinational conglomerate that manufactures a long list of products, ranging from Ayurvedic medicines to cosmetics to food items. The conglomerate has run into trouble over misleading advertisements about the efficacy of their products.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court came down heavily on Patanjali, citing its failure to respond to a notice for contempt proceedings. The court directed Ramdev and Balkrishna to appear before it. It also noted that Patanjali Ayurved’s advertisements were in the teeth of an undertaking given to the court last year.
On November 21 last year, Patanjali’s counsel had assured the court that “henceforth there shall not be any violation of any law(s), especially relating to advertising or branding of products manufactured and marketed by it and, further, that no casual statements claiming medicinal efficacy or against any system of medicine will be released to the media in any form”.
The Supreme Court is hearing a petition by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) that alleged a smear campaign by Ramdev against the Covid vaccination drive and modern medicine.
