Yoga Guru Ramdev Summoned By SC

Over Patanjali's Misleading Ads…

On Tuesday, 19 March 2024, the Supreme Court questioned Patanjali Ayurved for failing to respond to a contempt notice over misleading advertisements.

Yoga guru Ramdev was ordered to appear before the court.

A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah also summoned Patanjali managing director Acharya Balkrishna.

In February, the Supreme Court pulled up Patanjali for prima facie violation of the undertaking it had given in the court about its products and statements claiming their medicinal efficacy.

The court had issued a notice to Patanjali and Balkrishna, asking why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them.

But it noted today that Patanjali did not file a response even though it had held a press conference after its earlier order.

" We will ask the managing director to appear in the court during the next hearing," the court said on Tuesday.

The order stated that Ramdev and Balakrishna were both prima facie in violation of Sections 3 and 4 of the Drugs and Remedies Act, which deal with misleading ads of their medicines.

The court also issued a contempt notice to Ramdev, co-founder of Patanjali, and asked him to explain why he should not face action for contempt of court.

Senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi, who is appearing for Patanjali Ayurved, opposed the move and asked, "How did Ramdev come into the picture?"

"You are appearing. We will see each other on the next date. Enough," the court said.