Delhi High Court Issues Notice On Plea Claiming Non-Vegetarian Ingredient In Patanjali's Divya Manjan Product

The Delhi High Court yesterday issued notice on a plea alleging that Patanjali's Divya Manjan product contains non-vegetarian ingredient.

Justice Sanjeev Narula sought response of the Central Government, Divya Pharmacy (manufacturer), Patanjali Ayurveda (seller), Yoga Guru Ramdev, Acharya Balakrishna, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and other relevant parties.

The matter will now be heard in November.

The petitioner, Yatin Sharma, has sought action against the alleged misbranding of the product in question. He claimed that the dental care product was being sold with a "green dot", symbolising that it was a vegetarian commodity.

The plea said that Sharma, who belongs to a brahmin community, used the product thinking it is vegetarian in nature but has now discovered that the Divya Manjan contains “Samudraphen” (Sepia officinalis)” which is derived from fish extract (Cuttlefish bone).

It is Sharma's case that he has filed various complaints against the alleged misbranding of the product but no action has yet been taken by the authorities.

“This petition underscores the need for judicial intervention to address the lapse on the part of the respondents in taking appropriate action against those responsible for the production and promotion of "Divya Manjan" containing non-vegetarian ingredients,” the plea states.

It adds that Ramdev has admitted in one of his YouTube videos that the ingredient "samudra fen" is an animal-based product and is used in Divya Manjan product.

“The Petitioner seeks redressal for the profound distress caused by the inadvertent consumption of a non-vegetarian product, emphasizing the importance of upholding religious beliefs and ensuring transparency in product representation,” the plea said.

Title: Yatin Sharma v. Union of India & Ors.