Patanjali Ayurved and its Managing Director, Acharya Balkrishna, have offered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court for their advertisements criticizing evidence-based medicine. In a filed affidavit, Balkrishna assured that the company will refrain from similar ads in the future, emphasizing their intention to promote Ayurveda.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: Patanjali Ayurved and its Managing Director, Acharya Balkrishna, offered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court Yesterday (March 20th) concerning their marketing practices, specifically targeting evidence-based medicine. The apology was presented through an affidavit, following accusations by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) of a derogatory campaign by Patanjali and its renowned founder, Baba Ramdev, against COVID-19 vaccinations and conventional medical practices.
In the submitted affidavit, Balkrishna assured that Patanjali would refrain from disseminating such controversial advertisements in the future, emphasizing that the primary goal was not to offend but to encourage a healthier lifestyle through Ayurveda. He stated,
“The Deponent will ensure that such advertisements are not issued in the future. By way of clarification, not as a defense, the Deponent begs to submit that its intention is only to exhort the citizens of this country to lead a healthier life by consuming products of the Respondent No. 5 including products for lifestyle ailments through the use age-old literature and materials supplementing and backed by ayurvedic research.”
Patanjali also acknowledged a lapse in their media wing’s awareness of legal restrictions against such advertisements, expressing regret over the unintended inclusion of offensive content. The affidavit clarified,
“The Deponent regrets that the advertisement in question which was meant to contain only general statements inadvertently included the offending sentences. The same was bona-fide and added in routine course by the media department.”
Further, Patanjali highlighted its commitment to scientific research within Ayurveda, noting that its products are supported by modern clinical studies, a fact not recognized at the time of the 1940 Drugs and Cosmetics Act. They assert their dedication to providing holistic, scientifically validated solutions for managing lifestyle diseases through traditional Ayurvedic and Yoga methodologies. The company’s stance was outlined as,
“The Deponent’s only quest is for a better and healthier life for each and every citizen and to reduce the burden on the countries healthcare infrastructure by providing holistic, evidence-based solutions for lifestyle-related medical complications through the usage of age-old traditional approach of Ayurveda and Yoga.”
The legal backdrop includes the Supreme Court’s November 2023 warning to Patanjali, threatening fines of Rs 1 crore for each misleading claim in their advertisements. The Court emphasized the need for truthfulness and barred the promotion of false medical benefits, underlining that the controversy transcends the debate between conventional and Ayurvedic medicines.
However, Patanjali’s continued non-compliance led to a temporary suspension of their advertisements in February 2024 and the issuance of contempt notices to the company and Balkrishna for their unfounded medical claims. The Supreme Court expressed disappointment over the misleading information disseminated by Patanjali and criticized the Central government’s inaction against such advertisements, despite ongoing litigation since 2022.
Most recently, the Court mandated the personal attendance of Baba Ramdev and Balkrishna, noting their apparent contravention of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, as per Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on April 2.
CASE TITLE:
Indian Medical Association & Anr v. Union of India and Ors
Click Here to Read Previous Reports on Baba Ramdev
FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES
