Supreme Court closes contempt case against Patanjali Ayurved, co-founders

The court, however, warned that both of them must comply with all future orders and not repeat their past conduct

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday closed contempt proceedings against Patanjali Ayurved co-founders Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna, and their company in the misleading advertisements case. The top court, however, warned that both Ramdev and Balkrishna should comply with all future orders and not repeat their past conduct.

A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, which had reserved orders on May 14, said that proceedings are being closed accepting the apology tendered by the parties after they took steps to rectify their mistake. The apex court, however, would reopen the proceedings if the parties do anything in future in violation of court orders, Justice Kohli said.

The top court was hearing a petition filed by the IMA (Indian Medical Association) against Patanjali’s advertisements attacking allopathy and making claims about curing certain diseases.

On November 21, 2023, Ramdev and Balkrishna had assured the court that they would not make any “casual statements claiming medicinal efficacy, or against any system of medicine”. But just a day later Ramdev held a press conference, saying remedies for blood pressure were “lies spread by allopathy”.

And, on December 4, the unlisted firm in which Balkrishna holds about 94 per cent stake, issued a similar advertisement. It irked the apex court.

The court had on February 27 this year issued a contempt notice to Patanjali Ayurved, its managing director Balkrishna and Ramdev for flouting earlier orders and continuing to propagate false and misleading claims about curing diseases with the company’s products.

The top court had also temporarily restrained Patanjali Ayurved from advertising or branding its products that are meant to address diseases/disorders specified in the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.

While the court had banned Patanjali advertisements with misleading claims, it came down heavily on the central government, saying it was “sitting with eyes closed” as the entire country was “taken for a ride”.

Following this, on March 19, when the court was informed that the reply to the contempt notice was not filed, it went on to pass an order, seeking personal appearance of Balkrishna and Ramdev.

The court also took exception to the explanation given in Balkrishna's affidavit that the media department of the company was not aware of the SC order.

The company had not responded to an email sent by Business Standard seeking its comments, till the time of going to the press.