THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, August 13: Giving relief to Patanjali Ayurveda, Yoga Guru Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna in the misleading advertisement case, the Supreme Court on Tuesday closed the contempt of court case against them. However, the court issued a stern warning, stating that if they violate court orders in the future, as was done previously, they will face severe punishment.
Advocate Gautam Talukdar, representing Yoga Guru Ramdev, Balkrishna, and their company, stated that after accepting the apology, the court has closed the contempt proceedings based on the affidavits submitted by Ramdev, Balkrishna, and Patanjali Ayurved Limited.
A bench comprising Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah delivered its verdict on Tuesday.
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Case background
Notably, the Supreme Court had reserved its decision on the contempt notice on May 14. The verdict was given in response to a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association, which accused the parties of defaming COVID vaccination and allopathy.
Patanjali Ayurved assured the Supreme Court on November 21, 2023, that they would not violate any laws, particularly during the advertising or branding of their products.
They also promised that they would not make claims about the effects of medicines or release any statements against any medical practice to the media in any form. The court had emphasized that Patanjali is obligated to provide this assurance.
Ramdev breached the court’s order by holding a press conference in November 2023, where he spoke about the court’s harsh criticism of Patanjali Ayurved. This angered the Supreme Court, as it occurred despite Patanjali’s prior commitment not to make any statements to the media.
Consequently, the Supreme Court issued a show-cause notice to Patanjali Ayurved, questioning why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them. The court also mandated that an apology be published in newspapers.
