Patanjali misleading ad case: Baba Ramdev, Balkrishna likely to appear for Supreme Court hearing today
Patanjali featuring Ramdev's face were in direct contravention of the company's past undertaking to refrain from such advertisements. The order, as quoted by HT, stated, “Having gone through the advertisements issued by respondent Patanjali, in teeth of the undertaking given to this court and noticing the said advertisement by Acharya Ramdev, it is deemed appropriate to showcause why contempt proceedings not be initiated against him under the Rules to Regulate Proceedings for Contempt of the Supreme Court, 1975. He has also violated provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954." Section 3 of this act prohibits any advertisement claiming diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of lifestyle diseases such as blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, cervical spondylitis, obesity, and heart diseases.
The order was passed on a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which approached the court against Patanjali, alleging it was making false and misleading claims of curing diseases and discrediting modern medicine. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Patanjali, told the court, "Violation of the law is not contempt. Everyday many things happen.
The last order was of February 27. Between that day and today, what have I done? Even if the court feels there is any further aggravation, I will convey to my client on what he needs to say," as quoted by HT. However, the bench responded, "The provisions of the 1954 act concerns all individuals.
On last occasion too, there was material where it was alleged that Baba Ramdev called a press conference after our order was passed. There is nothing personal in this matter. We have only issued showcause notice.
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