Supreme Court’s stern warning to Patanjali over misleading ads

The Supreme Court of India delivered a stringent warning to Patanjali Ayurveda, co-founded by Baba Ramdev, demanding an immediate halt to "misleading advertisements." Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Prashant Kumar Mishra presiding over the case affirmed that any product making false cure claims would be slapped with a staggering ₹1 crore penalty.

This admonishment came during the court's hearing of petitions filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). Justice Amanullah emphasized, "All such false and misleading advertisements of Patanjali Ayurveda have to stop immediately." The court expressed grave concern over misleading medical advertisements and warned of severe repercussions for any breach.

The bench clarified its stance, indicating a desire not to escalate the matter into an "Allopathy v. Ayurveda" debate but aimed to address the menace of misleading medical advertising. Stressing the gravity of the issue, the court directed the Union Government to devise effective solutions following consultations. The case is set to reconvene on February 5, 2024, for further deliberations.

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The IMA's petition also accused Patanjali of fueling vaccine hesitancy by spreading misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, Ramdev faced criticism for allegedly mocking citizens seeking oxygen cylinders during the second wave.

Earlier in February, Ramdev sparked controversy by suggesting a surge in cancer cases post the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking at a Patanjali Yog Samiti yoga camp in Goa, he claimed, "Cancer has increased a lot...People have lost their eyesight, their sense of hearing..." Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant shared the stage with Ramdev.

Subsequently, Ramdev sought protection in the Supreme Court after facing criminal charges across multiple states for his contentious statements