‘Be prepared for action’ Supreme Court cautions Baba Ramdev, Balakrishna in Misleading Ads case

Yoga guru Ramdev and his associate Balakrishna reached in the Supreme Court today regarding the issue of “misleading advertisements” by Patanjali Ayurved.

The Supreme Court expressed strong dissatisfaction with Ramdev and Balakrishna for their failure to comply with its directives. “Be prepared for action,” the Supreme Court cautioned Ramdev.

Additionally, the Supreme Court declined to accept an apology previously submitted by Patanjali last month. “We are not satisfied with your apology,” the apex court remarked.

Subsequently, Ramdev apologized in court. “We wish to express our regret and are prepared to abide by the court’s decision,” conveyed the yoga guru’s lawyer with folded hands.

On February 27, the Supreme Court had instructed the company to cease all electronic and print advertisements of its medicines containing “misleading” information immediately.

The court also reprimanded the Centre for its lack of action, criticizing them for being passive. “This is highly regrettable. The government must take immediate action,” the bench had emphasized.

The case originated in November last year when the Supreme Court, while addressing a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), cautioned Patanjali Ayurved against disseminating “false” and “misleading” claims in its advertisements about its medicines.

The IMA had highlighted various advertisements allegedly portraying allopathy and doctors in a negative light, asserting that certain ayurvedic medicine-producing firms had made “derogatory” remarks to deceive the public.

These advertisements purportedly suggested that medical practitioners themselves were succumbing to ailments despite relying on modern medicines, as outlined by the IMA’s counsel.