SC gives Baba Ramdev one week to submit new affidavits

The Supreme Court has granted Yogguru Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna a final opportunity to submit fresh affidavits within a week concerning misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurveda. Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah directed them to appear before the court, scheduling the next hearing for April 10.

During the hearing, the court noted discrepancies in the attached documents of the affidavits and highlighted the possibility of perjury. Despite unconditional apologies from Ramdev and Balkrishna, the court expressed dissatisfaction, stating they had violated their undertakings to the court and couldn’t be equated with ordinary citizens.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta expressed disappointment over the incident, affirming that it should not have occurred. While acknowledging Ramdev’s contributions to yoga, the court also impleaded the drugs and license department as a party to the case.

The court emphasized the seriousness of the violation of its undertakings and reiterated its dissatisfaction with the apologies. In the previous hearing, the court had summoned Ramdev and Balkrishna for not responding to the show cause notice in contempt proceedings related to misleading Patanjali Ayurveda advertisements.

The court had earlier observed prima facie violations of its November 2023 order cautioning against misleading advertisements about medicines and restraining Patanjali Ayurveda from advertising products as treatments for diseases. The case originated from an Indian Medical Association petition seeking guidelines to prohibit false and misleading advertisements regarding allopathy and modern medicine, citing concerns of misinformation and disparagement against modern medicine.