Yoga expounder Ramdev and the Managing Director of Patanjali Ayurved Acharya Balkrishna come under the radar of the Supreme Court on Tuesday for their 'absolute disobedience' in not filing proper affidavits of compliance in the misleading advertisement case and breaking "every barrier". It also disapproved of the Patanjali MD's statement that the Drugs and Cosmetics (Magic Remedies) Act is “archaic”.
A bench consisting of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, stated, "Not just the Supreme Court, every order passed by the courts across this country has to be respected, this is absolute defiance." c
Furthering telling Ramdev and Patanjali MD, the apex court's bench, cited, "You have to abide by undertaking given to the court and you have broken every barrier."
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.
“You should have made sure the affidavit is filed in pursuance of your solemn undertakings,” Justice Kohli told the counsel for Balkrishna.
“Sometimes things should reach a logical conclusion,” the bench said at the outset of the proceedings when the counsel for Patanjali and others sought some more time for filing the affidavits of compliance.
While posting the matter for further hearing on April 10, the bench directed that both of them remain present 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.
"Both are present?" the bench asked on Tuesday. The counsel appearing for Ramdev said both of them are in the court. 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.
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