Jahanvi Agarwal
On April 10, the Supreme Court firmly rejected the apologies from yoga guru Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd.’s Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna for misleading advertising practices, expressing dissatisfaction with their actions. The Court also pointedly criticized the Uttarakhand government for not taking any significant action against Patanjali Ayurved for its legal breaches.
The Justices on the Bench, Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, made it clear during the hearing that leniency was off the table, scheduling another hearing for April 16.
The division Bench probed the Uttarakhand government for neglecting to safeguard consumers who had placed their trust in Patanjali’s products, hoping for cures to their health issues. The Court’s concern extended beyond this single company, touching on the broader issue of FMCG companies painting overly optimistic pictures for their consumers.
The Supreme Court’s frustration was palpable when it noted the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority’s lackluster response to the issue, despite having filed a detailed affidavit.
The Court’s message to the Uttarakhand government was stern, emphasizing that government officials who ignored consumer complaints would face consequences. “All complaints were forwarded to the government. The licensing inspector remained quiet, there is no report by the officer. The concerned officers should be suspended right now,” the Justices insisted.
Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah particularly rebuked the State Licensing Authority for its inaction, saying, “We have strong objection to use of word ‘bonafide’ for officers. We are not going to take lightly. We will rip you apart.”
The Supreme Court has demanded that all officers who have served as District Ayurvedic and Unani Officers from 2018 to the present account for their actions or lack thereof.
Prior to this, on April 9, Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna had submitted affidavits to the Supreme Court, apologizing unconditionally for Patanjali Ayurved’s misleading ads, promising to respect the law and justice going forward.
Baba Ramdev stated, “I seek pardon for the aforesaid breach of the statement. I undertake to always uphold the majesty of Law and majesty of Justice.” He assured that they would adhere strictly to their statement and avoid issuing similar advertisements in the future.
However, this was not the first time the Court expressed its displeasure with the duo. On April 2nd, the Justices criticized them for merely paying lip service with their apology, as reported by PTI. The Court was also troubled by the government’s inaction against Patanjali’s exaggerated claims about its products, especially during the Covid pandemic, questioning the government’s decision to remain passive.
Case Name: Indian Medical Association v. Union Of India
Dairy Number: 645/2022
Bench: Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah