In a stern rebuke to Patanjali Ayurveda, the Supreme Court of India has taken decisive action by issuing a contempt notice to the company and its founder, Acharya Balakrishnan, for allegedly violating court orders regarding the medicinal claims of its products.
A bench comprising justices Hima Kohli and A Amanullah heard the case and directed Patanjali Ayurved and its managing director to respond to the contempt notice within three weeks.
The Supreme Court also criticized the Central government for its inaction, questioning why authorities had not taken steps against Patanjali despite clear violations. The bench expressed concern that the country was being misled and emphasized the importance of upholding legal standards.
This development comes after warnings issued by the court in November 2023, where Patanjali was cautioned of a hefty fine of Rs 1 crore if its advertisements continued to make misleading claims. Despite these warnings, the company allegedly persisted in releasing advertisements with contentious claims.
The bench admonished Patanjali for its audacity in releasing such advertisements despite court orders, questioning the meaning behind terms like “permanent relief” and whether they implied a cure. The court hinted at passing strict measures in response to Patanjali’s actions, stating that the company was “tempting the Court.”
The Supreme Court had previously restrained Patanjali from marketing products claiming to cure ailments until further notice. In the recent order, the bench urged the government to take action against Patanjali and cautioned the company against making adverse statements about any system of medicine in the media.
Earlier assurances by Patanjali’s counsel to comply with the law and refrain from making misleading statements were cited, but the alleged violations persisted, prompting the court to take stricter action.
The case stems from a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) alleging false claims made by Patanjali in its advertisements and a smear campaign against modern medicine and Covid-19 vaccination efforts by Baba Ramdev, the face of the company.
