"Use influence in the right way," SC advises Baba Ramdev amid contempt case

The Supreme Court, presided over by Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, reserved its order in a contempt of court case linked to misleading advertisements attributed to Patanjali Ayurved, Baba Ramdev, and Acharya Balkrishna. Despite exempting the duo from personal appearances, the bench, known for its strong observations against the FMCG firm, issued critical remarks.

Notably, the court advised Baba Ramdev, a renowned Yoga teacher, to wield his influence responsibly, emphasizing the importance of informed consumer choices. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's acknowledgment of Ramdev's contributions to Yoga met with a pointed response from Justice Kohli, who distinguished between Yoga advocacy and the marketing of Patanjali products.

In response to a petition by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) alleging a smear campaign against modern medicine, Patanjali had previously given an undertaking to refrain from making disease-curing claims. However, the Supreme Court found the firm in violation and issued contempt notices to Ramdev and Balkrishna.

Following the court's stern stance, the duo published apologies in newspapers, leading to the court's expressed satisfaction. Now, Patanjali has been granted three weeks to submit affidavits detailing efforts to recall misleading advertisements and cease sales of banned products, indicating ongoing legal scrutiny over the firm's advertising practices.