Ramdev and his aide Balkrishna received a warning from the Supreme Court against attempting to 'degrade allopathy'. SC making it clear that it is not letting them 'off the hook' yet, permitted both to tender a "public apology and show contrition" within a week in the contempt proceedings in the misleading advertisements case.
"You can't degrade allopathy. You do your work. You are doing very good work," Justice Amanullah observed.
The apex court is hearing a plea filed in 2022 by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) alleging a smear campaign against the COVID-19 vaccination drive and modern systems of medicine.
The counsel appearing for Ramdev and Balkrishna, who both were personally present in the court and tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology, told a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah that they were willing to give a "public apology to show contrition".
"Do what you have to do by way of an advertisement, we are not commenting on it. But at this moment, we are not saying they are off the hook," the bench told senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the duo.
While noting Rohatgi's submission that to redeem themselves and demonstrate their bonafide, Ramdev and Balkrishna propose to take some steps unilaterally, the bench granted them one week and posted the matter for hearing on April 23.
"We want to understand. Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna are both here. You have a lot of prestige… people look at you and appreciate your work. You have done so many things for Yoga," Justice Kohli told Ramdev.
"I want to say that whatever mistake I have made for that I have tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology," Ramdev said in Hindi with folded hands.
Justice Kohli asked him about the press conference he addressed after the November 21 last year SC order which had noted the undertaking given by the counsel appearing for Patanjali Ayurved.
In that order, the apex court had noted that Patanjali's counsel had assured it that "henceforth there shall not be any violation of any law(s), especially relating to advertising or branding of products manufactured and marketed by it and, further, that no casual statements claiming medicinal efficacy or against any system of medicine will be released to the media in any form".
During the hearing on Tuesday, Ramdev said he never had the intention to disrespect the court in any manner.
The Yoga guru said they should not have done what they did at that point in time and will keep this in mind in the future. He said it happened in their zest for work. Balkrishna also apologised for the mistake.
"You did all this when there was a court order. You were not so innocent that you were not aware what has happened in the court," the bench said, adding, "So much innocence does not work in court".
"If you are thinking that your lawyer has given an apology, we have not made up our minds yet whether to accept your apology," it said.
The bench got irked when Balkrishna, the managing director of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, said Ramdev has nothing to do with the day-to-day affairs of the firm.
"You are again adamant on your stand," Justice Amanullah told Balkrishna, adding that the apology does not appear to be coming from the heart.
Rohatgi told the court at the very outset that they were willing to make a public apology.
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