The Supreme Court has summoned Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna from Patanjali Ayurveda to appear before it for not responding to a contempt notice in the misleading advertisements case. This action comes after the firm failed to reply to the contempt notice issued by the court.
The court has also issued a show-cause notice to Baba Ramdev, asking why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him. In February, the court had strongly criticized the advertisements of herbal products from Patanjali Ayurveda, stating that they misled the entire country by claiming to cure diseases.
The court had previously issued a notice to Patanjali Ayurveda and Acharya Balkrishna, questioning why contempt proceedings should not be started against them for allegedly violating the firm’s commitment given in court regarding the advertising of its products and their medicinal effectiveness. Additionally, the court had instructed the company and its officers not to make public statements against any systems of medicine.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) had filed a complaint against Patanjali Ayurveda, accusing them of running a smear campaign against modern medicine. The company had assured the court last year that it would not violate any laws related to advertising or branding of its products and would refrain from making casual statements about medicinal efficacy or against any system of medicine.
The court had cautioned Patanjali Ayurveda against making false and misleading claims in advertisements about its medicines. Last month, the court also prohibited the company from advertising or branding products meant to treat ailments listed as diseases, disorders, or conditions in the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
Sources By Agencies