In a significant relief for Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna, the Supreme Court of India has closed the contempt case against them related to misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurved. This decision comes after they submitted an undertaking assuring that they will not use misleading ads in the future.
Background of the Case
- Complaint by IMA: The case began after the Indian Medical Association (IMA) filed a plea against Ramdev and Patanjali in 2022, accusing them of making false claims about miracle cures through their advertisements. The IMA argued that these ads violated the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1954, and the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
- Court Proceedings: The Supreme Court held several hearings on the matter. During these sessions, the court expressed its dissatisfaction with the lack of action taken against Patanjali’s misleading advertisements by both the Uttarakhand state government and the central government.
Key Developments
- Undertaking by Patanjali: Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved provided an undertaking to the Supreme Court, promising to stop using any misleading advertisements. This commitment led to the court’s decision to close the contempt case and all related proceedings.
- Halting of Product Sales: In a previous hearing in July, Ramdev and Patanjali informed the court that they had ceased the sale of 14 products whose licenses were suspended by the State Licensing Authority of Uttarakhand in April. Patanjali also took steps to withdraw advertisements for these products from all media platforms.
List of Stopped Products
| Product Name | Type |
|---|---|
| Patanjali Drishti Eye Drop | Eye care |
| Swasari Vati | Respiratory health |
| Swasari Gold | Respiratory health |
| Bronchom | Respiratory health |
| Swasari Pravahi | Respiratory health |
| Swasari Avaleh | Respiratory health |
| MuktaVati Extra Power | Blood pressure management |
| Lipidom | Cholesterol management |
| Bp Grit | Blood pressure management |
| Madhugrit | Diabetes management |
| MadhunashiniVati Extra Power | Diabetes management |
| Eyegrit Gold | Eye care |
| Livogrit | Liver health |
| Livamrit Advance | Liver health |
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s decision to close the contempt case marks a significant development in the Patanjali misleading ads controversy.
