Patanjali Ayurved offers apology to Supreme Court Over misleading advertisements
Patanjali Ayurved, along with its CEO Acharya Balkrishna, has extended an apology before the Supreme Court in response to criticism and contempt proceedings initiated against them over misleading advertisements and criticism of modern medicine. The apology follows a directive from the Supreme Court, summoning Patanjali Ayurved and its managing director to personally appear before the court and address the contempt proceedings.
The apology conveyed through an affidavit filed by Acharya Balkrishna, expresses the company’s highest regard for the rule of law and extends an ‘unqualified apology’ for the misleading claims made about its products and their medicinal efficacy. Balkrishna assures the court that Patanjali Ayurved will take measures to ensure that such misleading advertisements are not issued in the future.
The affidavit was submitted a day after the Supreme Court admonished Patanjali Ayurved for failing to respond to a contempt notice regarding misleading advertisements. The court had directed both Balkrishna and Ramdev to appear in court on April 2 to address the matter.
The affidavit stated, “The Deponent on behalf of Respondent No. 5 submits an unqualified apology before this Hon’ble Court for the breach of the statement recorded in the order of November 21, 2023.”
It further added, “The Deponent will ensure that such advertisements are not issued in the future. By way of clarification, not as a defense, the Deponent begs to submit that its intention is only to exhort the citizens of this country to lead a healthier life by consuming products of the Respondent No. 5 including products for lifestyle ailments through the use of age-old literature and materials supplementing and backed by ayurvedic research.”
The Supreme Court is currently hearing a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which alleges a smear campaign by Ramdev against the Covid vaccination drive and modern medicine. The apology from Patanjali Ayurved comes in the midst of this legal battle, signalling a willingness to address concerns raised by the medical community and comply with legal obligations.
