SC issues contempt notices to Ramdev over misleading Patanjali ads

Supreme Court has issued contempt notices to Patanjali managing director Acharya Balkrishna and yoga guru Baba Ramdev over misleading advertisements, directing their appearance before the court in two weeks. Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah expressed displeasure over non-compliance with their earlier order from February 27 and sought a response from Patanjali and Balkrishna regarding misleading ads despite a previous undertaking.

The court cited the Rules to Regulate Proceedings for Contempt of the Supreme Court, 1975, and provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, which prohibit false claims regarding disease treatment. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Patanjali, argued that Ramdev had no association with Patanjali, requesting the court to allow him to be heard before any action. The Indian Medical Association had filed a petition against Patanjali for false disease-curing claims, prompting the court to restrain Patanjali from issuing misleading ads on medical product efficacy.

The bench said the provisions of the 1954 Act concern all. “On the last occasion too, there was material where it was alleged that Baba Ramdev called a press conference after our order was passed. We have only issued a show-cause notice. Let him respond.”