Patanjali’s ‘unqualified apology’ in Supreme Court linked to ads, also calls law ‘archaic’
NEW DELHI, MAR 21 : Patanjali Ayurved’s managing director Acharya Balakrishna, in an affidavit to the Supreme Court on Thursday, expressed “regret” for misleading advertisements. He 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 “unconditional 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.
On February 27, the Supreme Court restrained Patanjali Ayurved from publishing advertisements for medicines produced by it for ailments like blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, asthma and obesity, amongst others. It issued a contempt notice against Patanjali Ayurved and Acharya Balkrishna.
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.
In its affidavit, Patanjali said the advertisements released after November 2023 were meant to contain only “general statements”, but inadvertently included the “offending sentences”.
The advertisements were cleared by the Media Department of Patanjali, who were not cognisant of the Supreme Court order from November 2023.
“We will ensure that such advertisements are not issued in the future. By way of clarification, not as a defence, the deponent begs to submit that its intention is only to exhort the citizens of this country to lead a healthier life by consuming Patanjali products including products for lifestyle ailments through the use of age-old literature and materials supplementing and backed by ayurvedic research,” the affidavit said.
The company further said the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, is “archaic” and the last changes in the law were made as far back as 1996.
It added that the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 was passed when scientific research in Ayurveda was lacking.
“Our only quest is for a better and healthier life for each and every citizen and to reduce the burden on the country’s healthcare infrastructure by providing holistic, evidence-based solutions for lifestyle related medical complications through the usage of the age-old traditional approach of Ayurveda and Yoga.”
“The idea was to promote ayurvedic products which are based on age-old literature/material backed by scientific research,” the company added.
-PTI
