The SupremeCourt will continue hearing today the contempt case against #Patanjali Ayurved, Acharya Balkrishna and #BabaRamdev today.
The Court will examine today the public apology published by them for publishing misleading medical ads.
A Bench of Justices Hima Kohli & Ahsanuddin Amanullah will hear the matter.
The manufacturing licenses of 14 products of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd and its sister concern Divya Pharmacy were suspended on April 15, stated the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority in an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court on Monday (April 29).
Invoking the power under Rule 159(1) of the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules 1954, the licenses of these products were suspended with "immediate effect", the Authority stated. Notably, the order came after the Supreme Court pulled up the State Authority on April 10 for its inaction against Patanjali and Divya Pharmacy for their illegal advertisements of these products.
Further, the Authority stated that a criminal complaint has been filed against Patanjali Ayurved, its Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna, its co-founder Baba Ramdev and Divya Pharmacy before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Haridwar under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act 1954.
The products whose licenses have been suspended are Swasari Gold, Swasari Vati, Bronchom, Swasari Pravahi, Swasari Avaleh, Mukta Vati Extra Power, Lipidom, Bp Grit, Madhugrit, Madhunashini Vati Extra Power, Livamrit Advance, Livogrit, Eyegrit Gold and Patanjali Drishti Eye Drops.
The Authority also tendered an “unconditional and unqualified apology” to the Supreme Court for any “inadvertent and unintentional” non-compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court.
The development has taken place in the
case filed by the Indian Medical Association seeking action against the misleading medical advertisements published by Patanjali Ayurved. The Supreme Court
has initiated contempt proceedings against Patanjali Ayurved, Balkrishna and Ramdev for publishing objectionable advertisements violating an
undertaking given to the Court. They have
also filed affidavits of apology before the Court.
On the last hearing date, the bench expressed that its scrutiny was not just limited to Patanjali but to all FMCG companies which are taking the "public for a ride" by advertising false health claims about their products.
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