On Tuesday, the Supreme Court, a bench comprising of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Prashant Kumar Mishra issued a stern warning to the company Patanjali Ayurved, co-founded by yoga guru Ramdev, in response to a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association against misleading advertisements.
The Apex court asked them to not publish misleading claims against modern systems of medicine. It also said the bench may consider imposing a fine of Rs 1 crore on every product if a false claim is made that it can cure a particular ailment.
All such false and misleading advertisements of Patanjali Ayurved have to stop immediately...," a bench comprising justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Prashant Kumar Mishra orally observed while hearing a plea of the Indian Medical Association (IMA).
Earlier on August 23, 2022, the SC had issued notices to the Union health ministry and Ministry of Ayush and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, on the plea of the IMA alleging a smear campaign by Ramdev against the vaccination drive and modern medicines.
The court had then come down heavily on Ramdev for criticising allopathy and allopathic practitioners, saying he needed to be restrained from abusing the doctors and other systems of treatment.
"What happened to this Guru Swami Ramdev Baba?... Ultimately we respect him as he popularised yoga. We all go for this. But, he should not criticise the other system. What is the guarantee that Ayurveda whatever system he is following will work? You see the type of advertisements accusing all the doctors as if they are killers or something. Huge advertisements (have been given)," the bench headed by the then CJI N V Ramana, since retired, had said.
Ramdev Baba Defends Patanjali
A day after the Supreme Court cautioned Patanjali Ayurved against making “false” claims in advertisements about its medicines, Baba Ramdev on Wednesday defended his company by dismissing allegations of spreading misleading information and labelling it as part of an agenda to defame the brand.
Addressing a press conference in Haridwar, Ramdev refuted the reports circulating on various media platforms about the Supreme Court reprimanding Patanjali. He clarified, "Since yesterday, on different media sites, one news story has gone viral that the Supreme Court (SC) reprimanded Patanjali.
Ramdev went on to allege that a group of doctors is spreading false propaganda against him and his company, particularly targeting yoga and Ayurveda. He stated, "A few doctors have formed a group that continuously does propaganda against yoga, Ayurveda, etc... If we are liars, then fine us Rs 1000 crore, and we are also ready for the death penalty. But if we are not liars, then punish the ones who are really spreading the false propaganda. For the past 5 years, propaganda has been going on targeting Ramdev and Patanjali."
Defending his position, Ramdev further said, “Money cannot decide truth and lies. They (allopathy) may have more hospitals, doctors and their voices may be heard more, but we have the inheritance of the wisdom of sages, we are not poor.”
Defending Patanjali's ayurvedic products, Ramdev emphasised their compliance with necessary clinical evidence, denouncing recent efforts to undermine the ancient practices of yoga and Ayurveda. "There's a deliberate attempt to defame Patanjali and discredit centuries-old yoga and Ayurveda practices, alleging organ damage without factual basis. We possess extensive research and clinical evidence. This propaganda aims to tarnish Patanjali's reputation," he expressed.
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