Yoga guru Baba Ramdev issued an “unconditional apology” to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, after the bench rapped his company for non-compliance to earlier notices. The apex court slammed Patanjali Ayurved in the misleading advertising case, calling the firm out for “absolute defiance”.
Baba Ramdev and Patanjali managing director Acharya Balkrishna were summoned by the Supreme Court on April 2, after the company defied the court's earlier order regarding misleading advertising.
Read more: 'Absolute defiance': Baba Ramdev apologises to Supreme Court
The apex court bench also strongly disapproved of the earlier statement of Balkrishna, where he called the Drugs and Cosmetics (Magic Remedies) Act “archaic”.
Here are the key takeaways from the Supreme Court hearing
- A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah said on Tuesday, “Not just the Supreme Court, every order passed by the courts across this country has to be respected ... this is absolute defiance.”
- The bench told Balkrishna and Ramdev who were present in court, “You have to abide by the undertaking given to court and you have broken every barrier.”
- The court also rapped the Patanjali MD for calling the Drugs and Cosmetics (Magic Remedies) Act “archaic”.
Read more: SC hears Ramdev’s apology with ‘a sack full of salt’, tells him he is bound by law
3. The top court wondered as to why the Centre “chose to keep its eyes shut when Patanjali was going to town saying there were no remedy for Covid in allopathy”.
{{/usCountry}}3. The top court wondered as to why the Centre “chose to keep its eyes shut when Patanjali was going to town saying there were no remedy for Covid in allopathy”.
{{/usCountry}}4. Senior advocate Balbir Singh, appearing for Ramdev, urged the court to take note of the presence of the yoga guru and his unconditional apology.
5. “What has happened should not have happened”, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court and offered to help the counsel for parties to find a solution to the whole issue.
6. The counsel appearing for Patanjali sought some more time to file an affidavit in the matter. “Sometimes things should reach logical conclusion,” the bench said.
Read more: Appear in person in contempt case, SC directs Ramdev
7. The Supreme Court granted one last opportunity to Baba Ramdev and Balkrishna to file their affidavit in the matters in one week. Both have been asked to remain present during the next hearing, which is on April 10.
Last month, Balkrishna had tendered an unqualified apology to the apex court for advertising the herbal products of the firm claiming their medicinal efficacy in treating several serious diseases and running down other systems of medicine.
(With inputs from PTI)