The Supreme Court of India emphasised the significant influence wielded by yoga guru Ramdev, urging him to utilise it responsibly, as it heard a case involving misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurved and its founders, Ramdev and Balakrishna.
During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Balbir Singh informed the bench, comprising Justice Hima Kohli and Justice A Amanullah, that Patanjali had reached out to television channels airing the contentious advertisements and had halted the sale of the implicated products.
The Supreme Court subsequently instructed Patanjali to submit an affidavit detailing the stock of these products. Additionally, it accepted Ramdev and Balakrishna’s request to excuse their court presence for the time being.
“Baba Ramdev has a lot of influence, use it in the right way,” the bench remarked. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta highlighted Ramdev’s contributions to yoga, to which Justice Hima Kohli responded, “What he has done for yoga is good, but Patanjali products is another matter.”
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The court reserved its judgment on the contempt case against Ramdev and Balakrishna, scheduling the next hearing for July 9. Emphasising the importance of public awareness, the bench stated, “Public is cognisant, if they have choices, they make well-informed choices.”
This case originates from a petition by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), accusing Patanjali and its founders of disseminating misleading advertisements claiming that their products can cure ailments such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
The Supreme Court had previously issued a stern warning to Patanjali. Despite this, the advertisements persisted, prompting the court to issue a contempt notice against Ramdev and Balakrishna.
The court criticized their responses, deeming them insincere and merely lip service. In response to the mounting pressure, Patanjali issued an apology in newspapers, which failed to satisfy the court. The court questioned whether the apology’s prominence matched that of their full-page product advertisements. Subsequently, Ramdev and Balakrishna issued new, prominently displayed apologies in newspapers.
The Supreme Court’s focus remains on ensuring that the public receives accurate information and is able to make informed choices regarding health products. The ongoing case underscores the responsibility of influential figures like Ramdev in shaping public perceptions and the imperative to maintain truthful advertising practices.
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