The Supreme Court on Tuesday finalized the contempt of court proceedings against well-known yoga guru Ramdev, his associate Balkrishna, and their company, Patanjali Ayurved Limited, following their formal apology regarding misleading advertisements. This decision came after the Court evaluated the undertakings provided by the respondents, ensuring compliance with advertising laws.
The proceedings originated from a larger context where the Indian Medical Association (IMA) had accused Ramdev and his business of conducting a smear campaign against the COVID-19 vaccination effort and modern medical practices. This case highlighted tensions between traditional and contemporary medical systems in India.
Advocate Gautam Talukdar, representing the trio, confirmed the closure of the contempt case, which was initially reserved by the apex court on May 14. In a critical session held in November 2023, Patanjali’s counsel had assured the Supreme Court that there would be strict adherence to legal standards concerning advertising and public statements, particularly those pertaining to the medicinal benefits of their products.
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The assurance included commitments to refrain from unauthorized medicinal claims and negative commentary on conventional medical practices. However, subsequent media statements that appeared to contravene these assurances prompted the Supreme Court to contemplate initiating contempt proceedings.
