Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and his associate Acharya Balkrishna faced a stern warning from the Supreme Court today regarding misleading advertisements for Patanjali Ayurved products. The court directed them with a firm, “Be ready for action,” underlining the seriousness of the offense.
Court Orders Halt to Misleading Ads
Earlier in February, the Supreme Court had directed Patanjali to cease all misleading advertisements for its medicines across electronic and print media. The court also criticized the central government for inaction on the matter.
IMA Files Petition Against Patanjali
This legal saga began when the Supreme Court, responding to a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), cautioned Patanjali Ayurved against disseminating false and misleading information in its advertisements. The court specifically highlighted advertisements that allegedly portrayed allopathic medicine and medical practitioners in a negative light.
The IMA’s petition specifically mentioned commercials suggesting medical practitioners themselves succumb to illness despite using modern medicines. This portrayal, the IMA argued, misled the public.
Centre’s Response Criticised
During the proceedings, the Supreme Court also criticized the government for its inaction, remarking that it appeared as if they were turning a blind eye to the matter. The bench stressed the urgency for immediate action from the authorities in addressing the issue of misleading advertisements.
Ramdev Seeks Unconditional Apology
Following the court’s strong stance, Ramdev’s lawyer submitted an unconditional apology, seeking permission for Ramdev to personally present it before the court.
