The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): The Supreme Court on Tuesday posed tough questions to Indian Medical Association (IMA) President R.V. Asokan, refusing to accept his unconditional apology for critical statements he made against the apex court in a PTI interview regarding the Patanjali Ayurved Ltd’s misleading advertisements case.
A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah told Asokan, “You cannot sit on a couch giving an interview to the press and lampooning the court.” They emphasized that the court would not accept his affidavit of apology at this stage. Justice Kohli observed, “We are the first to uphold the freedom of speech and the right of thought, but there are times when there has to be self-restraint. We did not see it in your interview.”
Asokan, present in court, offered an unconditional apology and requested clemency. However, the bench responded, “Your conduct is not something which we can condone so easily,” and questioned why he made such statements in a pending matter where the IMA is the petitioner. Justice Amanullah added, “You can’t vent your internal feelings in the press like this. That too, against an order of this court.”
The bench termed his statements “very unfortunate” and noted that despite his unconditional apology, the nature of his comments was highly damaging. They pointed out that the IMA had brought Patanjali Ayurved Ltd to court, alleging that it was misleading the public and denigrating allopathy.
The court expressed displeasure with Asokan’s affidavit, stating, “Just because we are indulgent does not mean that anyone can get away with saying anything.” They also criticized his failure to issue a public apology until the court’s intervention. The bench highlighted the responsibility Asokan holds as the president of a large association, saying, “What kind of example is this voluntary association’s president setting for the rest of his colleagues?”
Justice Amanullah emphasized that the court was questioning his conduct as a litigant before the court, not his professional competence. “Your intentions are shown only by your conduct. We don’t have any mechanism to know what is going on in your heart and mind,” he remarked.
Senior advocate P.S. Patwalia, representing the IMA, requested the court to give them a chance to correct the situation. The bench, however, remained firm, stating, “Probably too little too late,” and scheduled the matter for further hearing in July.
The Supreme Court had earlier termed Asokan’s comments as “very, very unacceptable” and sought his response following an application by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, which urged the court to take judicial notice of his statements. Asokan’s controversial remarks were made during an April 29 interview with PTI, where he called the Supreme Court’s criticism of the IMA and private doctors’ practices “unfortunate.”
The top court is hearing a plea filed by the IMA in 2022, alleging a smear campaign by Patanjali against the COVID-19 vaccination drive and modern medicine.