New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday concluded contempt proceedings against Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved MD Acharya Balkrishna, related to misleading advertisements.
A two-judge bench, comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta, delivered the judgment after Ramdev and Balkrishna provided formal undertakings, assuring that they would cease issuing misleading advertisements and claims regarding Patanjali products.
The court was responding to a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which alleged that Patanjali Ayurved’s advertisements falsely claimed to cure ailments like blood pressure, diabetes, and asthma. The IMA argued that promoting such cures through advertisements was entirely improper and misleading.
In response, Patanjali Ayurved, along with Ramdev and Balkrishna, assured the court that they would comply with all relevant laws moving forward, particularly those governing advertising and product branding.
Previously, the Supreme Court had imposed a temporary ban on Patanjali’s advertisements in both print and television, specifically prohibiting the company from making claims related to diseases such as blood pressure, diabetes, and asthma. The court invoked the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act of 1954, preventing Patanjali from promoting its products as cures for specific health conditions.
