Patanjali Ayurved has issued an apology to the Supreme Court in reply to a notice requiring justification as to why contempt of court proceedings should not be pursued against it for allegedly violating an assurance provided to the apex court on November 21, 2023.
Hearing a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) accusing Patanjali Ayurved of violations under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, and criticising allopathy, the top court summoned the company’s Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna and Baba Ramdev on March 19.
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The court was displeased with an advertisement released by the company on December 4, 2023, despite assuring the court on November 21, 2023, that it wouldn’t make any statements questioning medicine or promoting its products.
In response to the court’s notice, Acharya Balkrishna expressed regret, stating that the offending statements in the advertisement were included unintentionally by the media department. “Regrets that the advertisement in question which was meant to contain only general statements inadvertently included the offending sentences.” he said.
“The same was bona-fide and added in routine course by the media department of the…Company”, he said, adding that “the personnel of the media department of the…Company were not cognizant of the order dated 21.11.2023.”
“The Deponent on behalf of Respondent No. 5 (Patanjali Ayurved) submits an unqualified apology before this Hon’ble Court for the breach of the statement recorded in Para 3 of the order dated 21.11.2023,” the affidavit read.
The affidavit clarified that the company’s intention was solely to encourage people to live healthier lives by using their products, which are based on ancient literature and supported by ayurvedic research. Additionally, it highlighted that the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 along with the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1955, specifically Schedule J, are outdated, with the last amendments made in 1996 by the Centre.
The Supreme Court is hearing a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which alleges that Ramdev conducted a smear campaign against the COVID-19 vaccination drive and modern medicine.
Established in 2006 by Ramdev and Balkrishna, Patanjali Ayurved is a multinational conglomerate that produces a wide range of products, including Ayurvedic medicines, cosmetics, and food items.
Recently, the Supreme Court expressed strong disapproval towards Patanjali, noting its failure to respond to a contempt notice. The court instructed Ramdev and Balkrishna to appear before it, asserting that Patanjali Ayurved’s advertisements contradicted the assurances given to the court last year.
On November 21 of the previous year, Patanjali’s legal representative assured the court that there would be no further violations of laws, especially concerning the advertising or branding of its products. Additionally, they pledged that no statements claiming medicinal efficacy or criticising any medical system would be disseminated to the media.