The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and his business partner Acharya Balkrishna have tendered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court over misleading advertisements circulated by their company, Patanjali Ayurveda. The apologies came through affidavits filed before the court, in which they committed to adhering to legal standards and ensuring no repeat of such violations.
In his affidavit, Baba Ramdev expressed sincere regret for the misleading advertisements, acknowledging the breach of legal compliance and assuring that Patanjali would not make the same mistakes in the future. He stated his commitment to uphold the “majesty of Law and Justice” diligently.
Similarly, Acharya Balkrishna assured the court of increased vigilance in monitoring Patanjali’s advertising practices, pledging that no such misleading advertisements would be disseminated going forward. This move comes after the Supreme Court’s directive in the last hearing, where Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah expressed dissatisfaction with the previous responses from the duo regarding their misleading promotional strategies.
The legal scrutiny intensified after the Indian Medical Association (IMA) lodged a plea against Patanjali for its advertisements that falsely claimed their products could treat various diseases, which could potentially mislead consumers. The Supreme Court had previously cautioned Patanjali against making unverified claims about its products and disparaging other systems of medicine.
The next hearing, scheduled for April 10, will further address the matter as the court continues to ensure compliance with its directives aimed at protecting consumer interests and maintaining ethical standards in business practices. This case highlights ongoing concerns about misleading advertisements in the healthcare sector and the judiciary’s role in enforcing advertising ethics.
