The Delhi High Court has called on Patanjali Ayurved to respond to allegations made by Dabur India regarding disparaging advertisements. The legal action concerns Patanjali’s portrayal of its Chyawanprash product, which Dabur claims undermines the reputation of its own market-leading Chyawanprash.
Justice Mini Pushkarna issued the summons on December 24, requiring Patanjali Ayurved and Patanjali Foods Ltd to file their written statements within thirty days. The dispute centers on a series of advertisements in which Patanjali touted its Special Chyawanprash as the “original” and “best” based on ancient Ayurvedic traditions, allegedly disparaging other products by suggesting they lack authenticity.
Dabur, holding a significant market share of over 60%, alleges that the advertisements by Patanjali not only disparage their product but also mislead consumers about the Ayurvedic preparation methods. The advertisements claim that Patanjali’s product is made following the “charak, sushrut, dhanwantari, chyawan sage tradition,” which Patanjali asserts is superior.
The court also addressed a plea for interim relief by Dabur, setting the next hearing for January 30. This plea includes a request for a permanent injunction to stop the broadcasting of the contested advertisements and any further actions that could harm Dabur’s goodwill and the reputation of its Chyawanprash product.
