"Has request for dropping misleading ads on social media been acceded": SC to Patanjali

Jul 09, 2024

New Delhi [India], July 9 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Patanjali Ayurved to file an affidavit to determine whether the request made to social media platforms for dropping off the misleading advertisements has been acceded to.
The court directed Patanjali Ayurved Ltd to file an affidavit mentioning that the request made to the social media company for the removal of advertisements has been complied with and all 14 medicinal products have been removed.
The court directions came when it noted the Patanjali Ayurved submission on an affidavit that the sale of those 14 products whose manufacturing has been suspended by the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority were stopped.
The court was also informed that electronic and print media associated with them
has been asked to stop advertisements regarding these medicines and
Meanwhile, the top court also appointed Shadan Farasat as amicus in the matter. In the meantime, the Indian Medical Association informed the Supreme Court that an apology for his controversial remarks regarding the Patanjali hearing has been published in various media platforms and its website too.
Senior Advocate PS Patwalia apprised the bench of justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta that when the IMA website is opened, there is a pop-up of this apology. He also apprised the court that IMA expressed regret and furnished an unconditional apology for such statements.
In the website, an apology was published by Dr RV Asokan National President, IMA which said that he expressed regret to the Supreme Court and have also submitted my affidavit to the Court for tendering my unconditional apology.
He also said that he never had any intention to lower the majesty or dignity of the Supreme Court. The court has listed the matter for July 30 for further hearing.
The court was dealing with the Indian Medical Association's plea seeking to frame guidelines for prohibiting false and misleading advertisements in relation to Allopathy and Modern Medicine.