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In a significant development, the Supreme Court has taken a stern stance against Patanjali Ayurved for its failure to address a contempt notice concerning misleading advertisements. As a result, yoga guru Ramdev and Patanjali’s managing director, Acharya Balkrishna, have been summoned to appear before the court.
A bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah expressed disappointment at Patanjali’s lack of response to the contempt notice, highlighting concerns over the company’s compliance with previous court directives regarding its products’ medicinal claims.
Last month, the Supreme Court had rebuked Patanjali for allegedly violating the assurances it had provided to the court regarding its products’ efficacy. Consequently, a notice was issued to Patanjali and Balkrishna, signaling potential contempt proceedings.
However, Patanjali’s failure to submit a response prompted the court to escalate the matter further. “Why haven’t you filed your response yet? We will ask the managing director to appear in the court during the next hearing,” the Supreme Court asserted during proceedings on Tuesday.
The court’s order highlighted potential violations of Sections 3 and 4 of the Drugs and Remedies Act by Ramdev and Balkrishna, emphasizing the seriousness of misleading advertisements related to medicinal products.
Moreover, the court extended its scrutiny to Ramdev, co-founder of Patanjali, by issuing a contempt notice and demanding an explanation for any potential contemptuous actions.
The summons to Ramdev and Balkrishna underscores the gravity of the situation and signals the court’s resolve to uphold transparency and accountability in advertising practices within the pharmaceutical sector.
