The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted a week’s time to Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved managing director Acharya Balkrishna to rectify the alleged contempt, after the duo offered to tender a ‘public apology’ in the misleading advertisements case.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Ramdev and Balkrishna, told a bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah that they are “ready to give a public apology to show contrition.”
The next hearing is scheduled for April 23, and the apex court has directed Ramdev and Balkrishna to be present in court again.
During the hearing, the bench personally interacted with the Patanjali founders, both of whom were present in court.
“They should feel they have a connect with the court,” the bench stated, while inviting the duo to come forward for an interaction.
During the previous hearing last week, the Supreme Court strongly criticised Patanjali founders and rejected their affidavits offering “unconditional apologies” for publishing “misleading” advertisements. The apology was issued in response to the contempt of court notices issued by the court in the case where they had been sued by the Indian Medical Association (IMA).
Furthermore, the court rebuked the State Licensing Authority for its lack of action on the matter and emphasised that it would not take the issue lightly.
In an unusually stern reprimand, the bench warned, “We will rip you apart. Do you have the guts to do what you are doing? You are acting as a post office,” the bench said in an unusually stern reprimand.”
The top court also criticised the Uttarakhand government for its failure to take action against Patanjali Ayurved for violating the law.
Earlier, on March 19, the court had summoned Ramdev and Balkrishna to appear before it due to the company’s failure to respond to notices regarding the advertisements of the firm’s products and their medicinal efficacy. The top court deemed it appropriate to issue Ramdev a show cause notice, as the advertisements issued by Patanjali contradicted the undertaking given to the court on November 21, 2023, suggesting endorsement by him.
(With agencies inputs)
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