New Delhi: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and managing director of Patanjali Ayurved Acharya Balkrishna’s unconditional apology did not cut much ice with the Supreme Court on Tuesday as the apex court said the duo had broken ‘every barrier’ for their absolute defiance in not filing proper affidavits of compliance in the misleading advertisement case. Granting the last opportunity to Ramdev and Balkrishna to file their affidavits in the matter in one week, the bench directed that both of them shall remain present before it on the next date on April 10, news agency PTI reported.
It also disapproved of Patanjali MD’s statement that the Drugs and Cosmetics (Magic Remedies) Act is archaic.
Not just the Supreme Court, every order passed by the courts across this country has to be respected; this is absolute defiance, a bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah said. You have to abide by the undertaking given to the court and you have broken every barrier, the bench told Ramdev and Patanjali MD, who were present in person.
Saying there was no remedy for COVID-19 in allopathy, the top court wondered why the Centre chose to keep its eyes shut when Patanjali was going to town.
Senior advocate Balbir Singh, appearing for Ramdev, urged the court to take note of the presence of the yoga guru and his unconditional apology. What has happened should not have happened, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court and he offered to help the counsel for parties to find a solution to the whole issue. You should have made sure the affidavit is filed in pursuance of your solemn undertakings, Justice Kohli told the counsel for Balkrishna.
Sometimes things should reach a logical conclusion, the bench said when the counsel for Patanjali and others sought some more time for filing the affidavits of compliance.
The bench granted the last opportunity to Ramdev and Balkrishna to file their affidavits in the matter in one week.
On March 19, the apex court directed Ramdev and Balkrishna to appear before it after taking exception to the company’s failure to respond to the notice issued in the case relating to advertisements of the firm’s products and their medicinal efficacy.
The top court had said it deemed it appropriate to issue a show cause notice to Ramdev as the advertisements issued by Patanjali, which were in the teeth of the undertaking given to the court on November 21, 2023, reflect an endorsement by him.
Earlier last month, Balkrishna had tendered an unqualified apology to the apex court for advertising the herbal products of the firm claiming their medicinal efficacy in treating several serious diseases and running down other systems of medicine. Patanjali Ayurved Ltd had assured the top court on November 21, 2023 that it will not violate any law, especially the laws relating to advertising or branding of products.
