The Supreme Court has summoned yoga guru Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved's Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna to appear in person within two weeks regarding alleged misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurved. This directive follows the court's previous decision to restrain Patanjali Ayurved from publishing ads for medicines targeting ailments like blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, and obesity, among others, after a contempt notice was issued against the company and its MD by the Supreme Court on February 27.
The contempt notice stemmed from a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), accusing Patanjali Ayurved of disseminating misleading advertisements. During the recent hearing, Justices Hima Kohli and Amanullah expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of a response from the accused despite previous directives.
The bench not only directed Baba Ramdev to appear in court but also issued a notice questioning why he should not face contempt of court charges. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Baba Ramdev, was questioned by the court regarding the delay in filing a response to the contempt notice.
Refusing to postpone the hearing, the bench criticized the Union Ayush Ministry for submitting a response just a day prior. In response, the Centre requested more time to file a proper affidavit, prompting the Supreme Court to instruct the Centre to file a fresh affidavit. This development underscores the ongoing legal scrutiny surrounding Patanjali Ayurved's advertising practices and its implications for consumer protection.