Patanjali gets contempt notice from Supreme Court; Said in the misleading advertisement case – the country is being cheated, the government is turning a blind eye

Supreme Court has issued contempt notice to Patanjali Ayurveda and its MD Acharya Balkrishna in the misleading advertisement case. During the hearing, Justice Amanullah said that you (Patanjali) had the courage to bring this advertisement even after the court order.

Now we are going to pass strict orders. We have to do this because you are provoking the court. The court also made strong remarks against the government. The court said – the entire country is being cheated and the government is turning a blind eye.

The next hearing of the case will be on March 15
Senior advocate PS Patwalia, appearing in the court on behalf of IMA, said that Patanjali had claimed to ‘completely cure’ diabetes and asthma with the help of yoga. The court has fixed the next hearing on March 15.

Indian Medical Association had filed this petition against Patanjali in 2022. According to IMA’s complaint, Baba Ramdev is spreading wrong information against allopathy on social media.

A fine of up to Rs 1 crore can be imposed on each false claim of a product
Earlier, in the hearing held on 21 November 2023, Justice Amanullah had said – Patanjali will have to immediately stop all advertisements with misleading claims. The court will take any such violation very seriously and can impose a penalty of up to Rs 1 crore for each false claim on a product.

Court does not want to create debate of ‘Allopathy vs Ayurveda’
The Court had directed that Patanjali Ayurveda will not publish any such advertisement in future and will also ensure that such casual statements are not made by it in the press. The bench also said that it does not want to turn the issue into a debate of ‘Allopathy vs Ayurveda’ but wants to find a real solution to the problem of misleading medical advertisements.

Baba Ramdev should not criticize other systems
In an earlier hearing, the then Chief Justice of India NV Ramanna had then said, ‘Baba Ramdev can popularize his medical system, but why should he criticize other systems. We all respect him, he popularized yoga, but he should not criticize other systems.

Patanjali was surrounded by claims of making Covid medicine
Ramdev Baba had claimed that Corona can be treated with his products Coronil and Swasari. After this claim, the company was reprimanded by the Ministry of AYUSH and asked to immediately stop its promotion.

▪️In 2015, the company did not obtain a license from the Food Safety and Regularity Authority of India (FSSAI) before launching instant atta noodles. After this, Patanjali had to face legal notice for breaking food safety rules.

▪️In 2015, the Canteen Stores Department had declared Patanjali’s Amla juice unfit for drinking. After this, CSD had removed Amla juice from all its stores. In 2015 itself, people in Haridwar had complained about finding fungus and impurities in Patanjali Ghee.

▪️In 2018 also, FSSAI had reprimanded Patanjali for writing the manufacturing date of one month ahead on the medicinal product Giloy Ghanvati.

▪️Apart from Corona, Ramdev Baba has been in controversies many times over the claim of curing cancer, AIDS and homosexuality with Yoga and Patanjali’s products.