Supreme Court to Hear Contempt Case Against Patanjali Ayurved Over Misleading Advertisements

In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a contempt case against Patanjali Ayurved, its founder Baba Ramdev, and Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna. The case pertains to alleged misleading medical advertisements of the company's products, with the court examining a public apology issued by Patanjali following its direction.

The bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, responding to a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), had directed Patanjali Ayurved to publish a public apology for alleged misleading advertisements targeting the Covid vaccination drive and modern systems of medicine. Despite an initial apology published in multiple newspapers, the court mandated a more prominent apology equal to the size of the misleading advertisements.

The Supreme Court's scrutiny intensified as it criticized Patanjali for fake advertisements, emphasizing the need to protect the public from deceptive marketing practices. Additionally, the court urged licensing authorities to take action against misleading advertisements.

Adding to Patanjali's legal woes, the Uttarakhand government suspended manufacturing licenses for 14 Patanjali products, including popular items like Divya Pharmacy's Drishti Eye drop, Swasari Gold, and Mukta Vati Extra Power.

This legal battle traces back to November 2023 when the Supreme Court directed Patanjali to cease advertisements claiming to treat ailments specified in the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. Despite this directive, the IMA alleged a continuation of such advertisements, leading to the contempt plea.

As the Supreme Court convenes to address the contempt case, the outcome holds significant implications for Patanjali Ayurved and the regulation of misleading advertisements in the healthcare sector.

LinkedIn Link - https://www.linkedin.com/company/legal-soch-foundation/ 💼📚👩‍⚖️

Telegram Link - https://t.me/+1-pfOBHo2a84MWRl

WhatsApp Link - https://chat.whatsapp.com/IMfN12mwJhELhOQLLFOLTb