Misleading ads by Patanjali: SC pulls up Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority for inaction
Apr 30, 2024
New Delhi [India], April 30 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority for inaction in the misleading advertisements case involving Patanjali Ayurved Limited and said the authority "tried to wash away everything".
A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah expresses dissatisfaction over the explanation offered by the authority.
The bench took on record the affidavits filed by certain district officers concerned from Haridwar including Ayurveda and Unani officers and expressed dissatisfaction on the affidavit. It also allowed Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority to file additional affidavits.
It appeared that the licensing authority got activated to take action in accordance with the law only after the apex court's April 10 order, the bench said.
The apex court on April 10 slammed on the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority for inaction and said it was not going to take it lightly as the authority appeared to have kept its "eyes shut deliberately".
The bench has now posted the matter for hearing on May 14.
During Tuesday's hearing, the authority told the top court that the manufacturing licenses of 14 products of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd and its sister concern Divya Pharmacy were suspended on April 15.
It has filed a criminal complaint against Patanjali Ayurved and its founders Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna, for violating the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, the authority added.
"This shows that once you want to do something, you do it with lightning speed, but if you don't, then for years nothing moves. In three days, you have taken all action. What were you doing for the past nine months since taking over? Finally, you realise that you have power and responsibilities. You have finally woken up from sleep," the bench said.
The apex court asked counsel of Patanjali Ayurved, Yog Guru Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna to file on record original page of each newspaper in which public apology was issued. The company produced an e-copy of the public apology while the court asked for original records.
It also exempted personal appearances of Ramdev and Balkrishna for the next date of hearing.
The bench was hearing case filed by Indian Medical Association (IMA) against an alleged smear campaign carried out by Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd. and its founders against the Covid-19 vaccination drive and modern medicine.
