The Supreme Court ask Baba Ramdev and Balakrishna to appear in the Patanjali ‘misleading ads’ case

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court summoned Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved MD Acharya Balkrishna for failing to respond to contempt notices in connection with a false advertising case against Patanjali Ayurved. The court not only instructed Baba Ramdev to appear in person but also issued a notice questioning why he should not be prosecuted for contempt of court.

The Supreme Court informed senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Baba Ramdev, that they would summon his client to appear in court and also include Baba Ramdev as a party to the case. Additionally, the court stated that it would not postpone the hearing.

The Supreme Court recently issued a contempt notice to Patanjali Ayurved and Acharya Balkrishna for airing ‘misleading advertisements’ across various media platforms. The court strongly criticized Patanjali for these ads and prohibited the company from advertising any products related to diseases or medical conditions.

Giving Patanjali Ayurved and Acharya Balkrishna three weeks to reply to the contempt notice, the court expressed its concern that the “whole country was being deceived.

This isn’t the first instance of the Supreme Court cautioning Patanjali about promoting products claiming to “cure” diseases.

Last November, the court cautioned the company, threatening a Rs 1 crore fine for false claims of curing diseases. The bench also criticized the Union government for not taking action against Patanjali’s ads.

In February, the Supreme Court reiterated its warning, stating, “Despite our caution, you continue to claim your products are superior to chemical-based medicines.”

Senior advocate PS Patwalia, representing the Indian Medical Association (IMA), pointed out a press conference by Ramdev, where Patanjali Ayurved advertised curing ailments like asthma and diabetes. Advocate Patwalia also noted a defamation case filed by Patanjali Ayurved against the Advertising Council.

In 2022, the Indian Medical Association filed a writ petition urging the central government, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), and the Central Consumer Protection Authority of India (CCPA) to take action against advertisements promoting the Ayush system while disparaging modern, evidence-based medicine.

The petition highlighted concerns about the widespread dissemination of misinformation that undermines modern medicine. It argued that Patanjali’s unverified claims violate existing laws such as the Drugs & Other Magic Remedies Act, 1954, and the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Additionally, the petition pointed out controversial statements made by Ramdev, including derogatory remarks about modern medicine and unsubstantiated claims about COVID-19 vaccines and oxygen cylinders during the second wave of the pandemic.

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