Yoga guru Baba Ramdev faced yet another rebuke from the Supreme Court on Tuesday as the apex court questioned his “attitude” while he sought an apology, alongside his associate Balkrishna, for repeatedly violating court directives. The court sternly reminded Ramdev that he isn’t “so naive” to be unaware of his actions within the court’s proceedings.
During a hearing concerning a contempt case against Ramdev filed by Patanjali Ayurved, Justices Hima Kohli and A Amanullah appreciated his contributions to promoting yoga but emphasized that his commendable actions do not excuse legal transgressions. “You have done a lot for yoga, and we respect that,” the bench stated, balancing recognition with admonition.
However, the justices expressed their ongoing concerns about Ramdev’s compliance with the court’s previous orders. “We have not yet decided whether to forgive you or not. You have violated the directives three times,” Justice Amanullah noted, highlighting the gravity of the matter.
Previously, the court had criticized not only Ramdev but also the Uttarakhand government during a session last week, signaling the serious nature of the contempt allegations. Despite his previous apologies, the court has twice declined to accept them, underscoring a pattern of non-compliance.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 23, where both Ramdev and Balkrishna are required to appear. In response to the court’s skepticism, Ramdev stated, “I have full faith in the judiciary,” indicating his hope for a resolution in his favor.
