The Supreme Court delivered a scathing rebuke to both Patanjali Ayurved and celebrity endorsers in a landmark case concerning misleading advertisements.
The Court, hearing a plea by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) accusing Patanjali of false claims and attacks on allopathic medicine, stressed the shared responsibility of advertisers and brand ambassadors.
A bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah held a firm stance.
"We believe advertisers, advertising agencies, and endorsers are all equally culpable for issuing misleading advertisements," they declared.
Highlighting the influence of celebrities, the bench added, "Endorsements by public figures significantly impact a product's reach. It is imperative for them to act with responsibility when endorsing products in advertisements."
The case stemmed from the IMA's contempt petition against yoga guru Ramdev, Patanjali Ayurved, and its MD Acharya Balkrishna. The Court, which had earlier issued contempt notices, also took exception to an interview by IMA president R V Asokan.
Terming his statements "highly unacceptable," the Court questioned the IMA counsel, "Your client goes to the press and makes misleading pronouncements! Isn't that misleading the public as well?"
The Court emphasised the importance of clear consumer information, especially in health and food sectors.
"Regulations exist to ensure consumers are aware of the products they choose," they stated.
As a significant step, the Court mandated "self-declarations from advertisers, similar to those required under cable television network rules," before an advertisement is aired.
These declarations will be uploaded on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's Broadcast Seva portal.
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