On Tuesday, the Supreme Court issued a warning to Patanjali Ayurved, a company co-founded by yoga guru Ramdev that specializes in herbal products. The caution pertained to the company’s advertising practices, emphasizing the need to refrain from making “false” and “misleading” claims regarding the efficacy of its medicines in treating various diseases.
“All such false and misleading advertisements of Patanjali Ayurved have to stop immediately. The court will take any such infraction very seriously…,” a bench comprising justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Prashant Kumar Mishra orally observed while hearing a plea of the Indian Medical Association (IMA).
On August 23, 2022, the highest court served notices to the Union health ministry, the Ministry of Ayush, and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. This action was taken in response to a plea by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which accused Ramdev of conducting a smear campaign against the vaccination drive and modern medicines.
In the concise court session, the bench directed Patanjali Ayurved to refrain from disseminating misleading claims and advertisements targeting modern systems of medicine.
The bench mentioned that it could contemplate levying a fine of INR 1 crore on each product in case any false claim is asserted, suggesting it can cure a specific ailment.
The Supreme Court urged the counsel representing the Centre to devise a solution to the problem of deceptive medical advertisements, particularly those making claims about medicines providing a complete cure for specific diseases.
The bench is scheduled to address the IMA’s plea during the hearing on February 5 of the upcoming year.
The Supreme Court, when issuing notices on the petition, strongly reprimanded Ramdev for his criticism of allopathy and allopathic practitioners. The court emphasized the necessity of restraining him from abusing doctors and other treatment systems.
“What happened to this Guru Swami Ramdev Baba?… Ultimately we respect him as he popularised yoga. We all go for this. But, he should not criticise the other system. What is the guarantee that Ayurveda whatever system he is following will work? You see the type of advertisements accusing all the doctors as if they are killers or something. Huge advertisements (have been given),” the bench headed by the then CJI N V Ramana, since retired, had said.
The IMA pointed to numerous advertisements that purportedly portrayed allopathy and doctors negatively. The association stated that companies involved in the production of ayurvedic medicines have also made “disparaging” statements with the intent of misleading the general public.
According to the IMA’s counsel, these advertisements assert that medical practitioners are succumbing to illness despite using modern medicines.
The IMA asserted that there was a coordinated attempt to undermine vaccination efforts, including the COVID-19 vaccination drive, and to discourage the use of allopathic medicines in the country.
