Yoga guru Baba Ramdev tendered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court for not complying with its orders in the misleading advertisement case. The apex court directed him to appear physically during the next hearing, on April 10.
Terming Ramdev’s apology in person as mere lip service, a bench comprising of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah gave him another opportunity to file his response to contempt proceedings. Ramdev and Managing Director of Patanjali Ayurved Acharya Balkrishna appeared before the Supreme Court on Tuesday in connection with the show cause notices issued as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them.
On March 19, the apex court directed Ramdev and Balkrishna to appear before it after taking exception to the company's failure to respond to the notice issued in the case relating to advertisements of the firm's products and their medicinal efficacy. The top court had said it deemed it appropriate to issue a show cause notice to Ramdev as the advertisements issued by Patanjali, which were in the teeth of the undertaking given to the court on November 21, 2023 reflect an endorsement by him.
The bench also disapproved of the Patanjali MD's statement that the Drugs and Cosmetics (Magic Remedies) Act is archaic. “Not just the Supreme Court, every order passed by the courts across this country has to be respected,” the bench observed.
“You have to abide by the undertaking given to the court and you have broken every barrier, the bench observed. The top court wondered why the Centre chose to keep its eyes shut when Patanjali was going to town saying there were no remedy for Covid in allopathy. Senior advocate Balbir Singh, appearing for Ramdev, urged the court to take note of the presence of the yoga guru and his unconditional apology. “What has happened should not have happened,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court and offered to help the counsel for parties to find a solution to the whole issue.
The bench granted the last opportunity to Ramdev and Balkrishna to file their affidavits in the matter in one week. While posting the matter for further hearing on April 10, the bench directed that both of them shall remain present before it on the next date.
On March 19, the apex court directed Ramdev and Balkrishna to appear before it after taking exception to the company's failure to respond to the notice issued in the case relating to advertisements of the firm's products and their medicinal efficacy.
The top court had said it deemed it appropriate to issue a show cause notice to Ramdev as the advertisements issued by Patanjali, which were in the teeth of the undertaking given to the court on November 21, 2023 reflect an endorsement by him.
The bench observed that advertisements issued by Patanjali are in the "teeth of law" of the land. Last month, Balkrishna had tendered an unqualified apology to the apex court for advertising the herbal products of the firm claiming their medicinal efficacy in treating several serious diseases and running down other systems of medicine.
Patanjali Ayurved Ltd had assured the top court on November 21, 2023 that it will not violate any law, especially the laws relating to advertising or branding of products.
-with agency inputs.
