Patanjali Ayurved, the herbal product giant co-founded by Yoga Guru Ramdev, has received a stern warning from the Supreme Court to cease the use of ‘false’ and ‘misleading’ claims in their advertisements regarding the curative properties of their medicines for various diseases. This caution came during the hearing of a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), raising concerns about Patanjali’s campaign against the vaccination drive and modern medicines.
Navigating Legal Waters: Supreme Court’s Firm Directive
The bench, comprised of justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Prashant Kumar Mishra, made it clear that Patanjali Ayurved must immediately stop all deceptive and inaccurate advertisements. The court’s oral observations underscored the urgency of halting promotions that undermine established medical practices. The panel even hinted at the possibility of imposing a substantial penalty of Rs 1 crore on each product for any false assertions regarding its curative capabilities.
Legal Notices and Future Consequences
The Supreme Court, on August 23, 2022, issued notifications to the Union Health Ministry, Ministry of Ayush, and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd in response to the IMA’s plea. This legal action reflects a significant step towards curbing misleading medical advertisements. The court has tasked the counsel for the Centre with finding a solution to the broader issue of misleading claims about medicinal properties.
IMA’s Battle Against Misinformation: Hearing Set for February 5
The IMA’s plea for a hearing on February 5, next year, will be considered by the bench, signaling a continued legal battle against deceptive advertisements. The Supreme Court, in response to the plea, strongly rebuked Ramdev for his criticism of allopathy and allopathic practitioners, emphasizing the need to prevent verbal attacks on doctors and medical practices.
Concerns Over Ayurvedic Advocacy: Bench Expresses Caution
Led by the former CJI N V Ramana, the bench expressed concern over the criticism of other medical systems by Guru Swami Ramdev Baba. Despite acknowledging his efforts in promoting yoga, the court highlighted the lack of a guarantee regarding the effectiveness of the Ayurvedic system he advocates. Large advertisements accusing doctors of being killers or similar derogatory statements were also noted.
Systemic Criticism and Vaccine Discouragement: IMA’s Allegations
The IMA has cited multiple advertisements portraying allopathic doctors negatively and highlighted derogatory statements by certain ayurvedic medicine manufacturers. According to the IMA, there is a deliberate attempt to discourage the use of vaccinations, including the COVID-19 vaccine, and modern allopathic medicines in the country.
