Patanjali submits 'unqualified apology' in Supreme Court

Patanjali Ayurved tendered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court on Wednesday for the company's misleading advertisements on their products and their medicinal efficacy.

The affidavit on behalf of Patanjali Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna was filed in response to a show cause notice asking why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated for for prima facie violating the undertaking given to the court on November 21, 2023.

A bench of justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah on Tuesday came down heavily on the company for failing to reply to the contempt notice, and directed yoga guru Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna to appear before it personally.

A day after apex court rap, Balkrishna issued an "unqualified apology", and said he would "ensure that such advertisements are not issued in the future".

Balkrishna said he “regrets that the advertisement in question which was meant to contain only general statements inadvertently included the offending sentences”.

The affidavit clarified that the company's “intention is only to exhort the citizens of this country to lead a healthier life by consuming products... including products for lifestyle ailments through the use age old literature and materials supplementing and backed by ayurvedic research.”

Notably, Balkrishna called the provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, "archaic," and passed when "scientific evidence in Ayurveda research were lacking".

Patanjali, the affidavit said, now has "evidence-based scientific data with clinical research" that would demonstrate the advances made.

The notices were issued in a plea by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) alleging a smear campaign by Ramdev against the vaccination drive and modern medicines.