The Supreme Court of India has issued a contempt of court notice to Baba Ramdev-owned Patanjali Ayurveda and its Managing Director Acharya Balakrishnan for violating its earlier order against misleading advertisements that talk about curing serious diseases or make claims against allopathy, according to media reports.

Additionally, the court has prohibited Patanjali Ayurveda from advertising or branding its products intended to address the diseases/disorders specified in the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act 1954, for the time being.

In its order, a division bench headed by Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah reportedly said, “Respondents are restrained from advertising and branding of their marketed medicinal products specified as treating diseases/ailments as in the rules, until further orders. They are cautioned from making any statements adverse to any medicine system in any form in print or other media.”

“The entire country is taken for a ride!," said Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah referring to the advertisements of Patanjali claiming to cure serious diseases.

He was further quoted as saying, “Today, I am going to pass really strict order. You flout this order! You had the courage and guts to come up with this advertisement after the order of this Court! And then you come up with this advertisement. Permanent relief, what do you mean by permanent relief? Is it a cure?...we are going to pass a very, very strict order. You are tempting the Court".

Responding to the ban on ads ordered by the court, Pantanjali's lawyers argued that the company's commercial operations, which also include the production of products like toothpaste, facewashes, etc would be adversely affected by such a ban. In response, the court specified that the ban on advertisements would be limited to products related to diseases specified under the Act.

The court had in November last year issued a notice to Patanjali directing it to not issue any misleading advertisements or make statements adverse to allopathy, in response to a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). In the plea, the IMA had accused Patanjali of defaming evidence-based medicine. The petition by IMA requested court to control the "smear campaign" and negative advertisements against the vaccination drive and modern medicines. 

The next hearing in the case will be held in two weeks.

e4m has reached out to Patanjali for their response in the matter. This copy will be updated once we receive a reply.