Angry Supreme Court Bans Patanjali Medicine Ads
The Supreme Court of India has temporarily banned Patanjali medicine advertisements after the brand disregarded its previous direct order to stop misleading information & advertisement.
Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved has once again found itself in hot water, facing legal consequences from the Supreme Court of India due to misleading advertisements and false claims regarding medicinal products.
The controversy began in February 2023 during a Yoga Camp in Goa, where Baba Ramdev made statements suggesting a link between the COVID-19 pandemic and an increase in cancer cases. This sparked a debate between the ayurvedic and allopathic branches of medicine.
In response, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) filed a ?1000 crore criminal lawsuit against Baba Ramdev, alleging defamation of modern medicine and spreading misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines and allopathic treatments.
The Supreme Court heard the case on November 21, 2023, criticizing Baba Ramdev's remarks and ordering Patanjali to cease its misleading advertisements immediately. The court warned of imposing ?1 crore fines for every product making false claims.
Despite the court's orders, Patanjali continued its misleading advertising practices, prompting the IMA to accuse Baba Ramdev once again during a hearing on February 27, 2024. The court rebuked Patanjali for its misleading claims of providing 'permanent relief' for various diseases.
Justice Amanullah issued a contempt notice to Patanjali and its managing director, Acharya Balkrishna, for disregarding the court's directives. The Supreme Court banned Patanjali from advertising medicinal products for specific diseases until further notice.
Furthermore, the court questioned the Union Government's inaction under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, which prohibits misleading advertisements.
Baba Ramdev has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including disobedience to public servant orders and spreading infection of life-threatening diseases.
The Supreme Court is set to continue hearings on March 15, 2024, underscoring the importance of curbing misleading advertisements and ensuring public health and safety.
