Patanjali’s ‘unqualified apology’ in Supreme Court linked to ads

Acharya Balkrishna, managing director of Patanjali Ayurved and an aide of Yoga guru Ramdev in an affidavit to the Supreme Court, expressed "regret" for misleading advertisements. They told the court that such advertisements would not be issued in the future while clarifying that Patanjali's quest was to reduce the burden on the country's healthcare infrastructure by providing solutions for lifestyle related medical complications through Ayurveda.

The company's swift response to a show cause notice issued by the Supreme Court over the company's misleading advertisements came two days after the court asked Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balakrishna to appear in person in two-weeks' time.

Patanjali also tendered an "unqualified apology" to the Supreme Court in response to a notice asking it to show cause why contempt proceedings should not be initiated for allegedly flouting an undertaking given to the court.

In an affidavit filed in the court, Mr Balkrishna has said he has the highest regards for the rule of law. The company will "ensure that such advertisements are not issued in the future".

Mr Balkrishna clarified that the company's "intention is only to exhort the citizens of this country to lead a healthier life by consuming products" of Patanjali, including those "for lifestyle ailments through the use age old literature and materials supplementing and backed by ayurvedic research".

He also said that provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, which prohibits advertisements of magic cure claims, is "archaic" and the last changes in the legislation were made when "scientific evidence in Ayurveda research were lacking". Patanjali, the affidavit said, now has "evidence-based scientific data with clinical research conducted in Ayurveda, which would demonstrate the advances made through scientific research in the context of diseases mentioned in the said schedule". "The idea is to promote ayurvedic products which are based on age-old literature/material backed by scientific research," the company added.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court came down heavily on Patanjali, citing its failure to respond to a notice for contempt proceedings. The court directed Ramdev and Balkrishna to appear before it. It also noted that Patanjali Ayurved's advertisements were in the teeth of an undertaking given to the court last year.

In November 2023, the company assured the Supreme Court that it would not make any statements or unsubstantiated claims about medical efficacy or criticising the system of medicine. But the company continued to issue misleading advertisements.

The Supreme Court is hearing a petition by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) that alleged a smear campaign by Ramdev against the Covid vaccination drive and modern medicine.