Yoga guru Ramdev is anticipated to make an in-person appearance before the Supreme Court today regarding allegations of “misleading advertisements” by Patanjali Ayurved.
During the previous hearing, the Supreme Court strongly rebuked Patanjali for its failure to comply with its instructions and instructed Ramdev and the Managing Director of the company, Balkrishna, to personally appear before the court today.
Following the hearing, an unconditional apology was submitted to the court, clarifying that Patanjali’s sole intention was to encourage citizens to lead healthier lives by utilizing its products.
On February 27, the highest court had instructed the company to immediately cease all electronic and print advertisements of its medicines containing “misleading” information.
The bench had also criticized the Centre for its inaction, remarking that they seemed to be turning a blind eye to the situation. “This is highly regrettable. The government must take prompt action,” the bench had emphasized.
The case originated in November last year when the Supreme Court, while hearing a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), cautioned Patanjali Ayurved against making “false” and “misleading” claims in advertisements regarding its medicines.
IMA had cited numerous advertisements that purportedly portrayed allopathy and doctors in a negative light, asserting that certain firms involved in the production of ayurvedic medicines had also made “disparaging” remarks to deceive the general public.
The counsel for the IMA stated that these commercials insinuate that medical practitioners are succumbing to illnesses despite using modern medicines.