The Supreme Court has taken a stern stance against Patanjali Ayurveda and its managing director, Acharya Balkrishna, issuing a contempt notice for flouting its previous order regarding misleading advertisements.
The court's action comes in response to a plea from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) concerning misinformation against Allopathy. Additionally, the court has barred Patanjali from promoting its medical products until further notice.
During the hearing, Justice Amanullah emphasized the gravity of misleading advertisements, stating, "Misleading advertisements cannot be tolerated at all." Senior advocate PS Patwalia, representing the IMA, pointed out instances where Patanjali claimed to 'completely cure' diabetes and asthma through yoga, raising concerns about the accuracy of such assertions.
This isn't the first time Patanjali has faced legal scrutiny over its promotional tactics. In November last year, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to address the issue of misleading advertisements, following a petition filed by the IMA alleging a smear campaign by Patanjali against Covid-19 vaccination. The court warned of imposing hefty fines of up to Rs 1 crore for each product making false claims regarding disease cures.
Apart from this contempt notice, Patanjali's founder, Yoga guru Ramdev, is entangled in legal battles over controversial remarks made during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ramdev faces criminal charges, including violations of IPC Sections 188, 269, and 504, lodged by the IMA for spreading false information on social media about medicines used by the medical fraternity.
The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing on March 15, signaling a continued scrutiny of Patanjali's advertising practices and Ramdev's controversial statements. As the legal battles unfold, it underscores the importance of upholding truth and accuracy in advertising, especially in matters concerning public health.
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