The Supreme Court rejected Patanjali’s apology regarding misleading advertisements, citing their actions as a “wilful disobedience of order.”
New Delhi: Today (April 10): Baba Ramdev, renowned yoga guru, and Acharya Balkrishna, Managing Director of Patanjali Ayurved, arrived at the Supreme Court on Wednesday for the hearing regarding misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurved.
READ ALSO: Patanjali ads: Ramdev, Balkrishna tender unconditional apology before SC
The Supreme Court, led by Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, rejected Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna’s “unconditional apology” regarding the misleading advertisements of Patanjali’s medicinal products. The court criticized Patanjali for their “wilful, deliberate, and repeated violations” of its orders.
“We are not turning a blind eye… We are not inclined to be lenient in this matter,” the bench emphasized.
The apex court also came down heavily on the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority for not taking action against Patanjali Ayurved.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Patanjali founders, mentioned that people make mistakes, but the court sternly responded that in such instances, consequences must be faced.
In his affidavit, Ramdev acknowledged the breach and sought pardon for his actions. He assured the court that he deeply regretted the lapse and guaranteed that it would not be repeated in the future. Ramdev also pledged to comply with the court’s directives and refrain from issuing similar misleading advertisements.
Acharya Balkrishna also ensure that such offending advertisements would not be released in the future. He expressed his commitment to exercise greater vigilance moving forward.
READ ALSO: “Can’t be Tolerated”: Supreme Court Demands Evidence from Patanjali in ‘False’ Ads Case
During the previous hearing, the Supreme Court directed Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna to submit fresh affidavits within a week. The matter pertains to misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurved. The bench of justices, Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, scheduled the next hearing for April 10 and ordered the presence of Ramdev and Balkrishna.
Previously, Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna offered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court for violating its order regarding misleading advertisements for Patanjali’s medicinal products.
However, the court expressed disapproval of their apology, stating that they had violated the undertakings given to the court and that the matter was being taken seriously.
The court was addressing a plea by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) seeking guidelines to prohibit false and misleading advertisements related to allopathy and modern medicine.
READ ALSO: BREAKING | Patanjali-Acharya Balkrishna Issue Apology to Supreme Court for Misleading Ads
In its plea, the IMA requested an order directing the Government and others to take immediate strict action, in accordance with the law, against the repeated acts of violation by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. The IMA alleged that Patanjali had been publishing illegal and prohibited claims through advertisements nationwide, contravening the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, 1945, and the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
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