Patanjali Ayurved has submitted an “unconditional apology” following a notice from the Supreme Court, which questioned why contempt proceedings should not be initiated due to alleged violations of a previous undertaking. The company expressed regret for its misleading advertisements and assured that such ads would not be issued in the future. This response came after Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balakrishna were summoned by the court.
In an affidavit to the Supreme Court, Acharya Balakrishna, the managing director of Patanjali Ayurved, acknowledged the misleading nature of the advertisements and clarified that their intention was to reduce the burden on the country’s healthcare system by providing Ayurvedic solutions for lifestyle-related medical issues.
The Supreme Court had previously restrained Patanjali Ayurved from publishing ads for medicines targeting ailments like blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, and obesity. Despite an assurance in November 2023 to refrain from such actions, Patanjali continued to release misleading ads, leading to a contempt notice from the court.
Patanjali’s affidavit stated that the offending sentences in the ads were inadvertently included and that the company’s media department was not aware of the court’s order from November 2023. The company emphasized its commitment to promoting Ayurvedic products based on scientific research and age-old literature.
Acharya Balakrishna apologized unreservedly for the breach of undertaking and assured the court that such advertisements would not be issued in the future. He also highlighted the advancements in Ayurvedic research and clinical data, indicating a shift from the outdated perspective of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
The Supreme Court is set to review the case on April 2, considering Patanjali Ayurved’s apology and commitment to adhere to the court’s directives moving forward.
