Baba Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna render personal apology to SC
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New Delhi: Co-founder of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. Baba Ramdev made a personal appearance before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 16, where he offered an unconditional apology for publishing deceptive advertisements and criticising allopathic medications in violation of an undertaking given to the court.
The Managing Director of Patanjali, Acharya Balkrishna, also expressed his apology to the court in person. Appearing for Patanjali, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi informed the Court that they are "ready to give a public apology to show contrition."
The contempt case against Patanjali Ayurvedi Ltd., Acharya Balkrishna, and Baba Ramdev in the matter of misleading advertisements was being heard by a bench made up of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, LiveLaw reported.
The bench spoke with Ramdev and Balkrishna directly during today's hearing and questioned them about why their actions went against the undertaking that the court had been given.
"Humne jo kiya vo uss samay nai khan chaiye tha…hum aagey yaad rakhengey (What we did at that point of time, it should not have been done. We will remember this in future)...vo utsah mein aisa ho gya(it happened in an impulse)...aagey se hum nai krenegy(won't do so in future)", Ramdev said in response to Justice Kohli's queries.
"Hume nahi krana chahiye tha(We should not have done it)", Balkrishna also told the bench.
The hearing was postponed by the bench until April 23 to allow them to redeem their actions. The bench recorded in the order as follows: "Mr Rohatgi, senior advocate appearing for the proposed contemnors submits that to redeem themselves and demonstrate…they want to take some steps unilaterally. In request of one week to revert on the aforesaid aspect, this Court has interacted with the proposed contemnors as well and heard their submissions. At the request of the respondents 5-7, list on April 23rd".
The initial apology affidavit from Patanjali MD was rejected by the court on April 2, despite the fact that it was noted to be not unqualified. The Court dismissed Patanjali MD's second affidavit of apology last week (April 10). The Court further observed that in order to avoid making a physical appearance before it, Balkrishna and Ramdev had sworn an affidavit with fake airline tickets. Additionally, the Court severely criticised the Uttarakhand State authorities for their failure to prosecute Patanjali under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act of 1954.
The Indian Medical Association filed a suit against Patanjali's advertisements criticising allopathy and making promises about curing specific conditions, which the Bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah were hearing. Regarding this, Patanjali Ayurved and Managing Directors Acharya Balakrishna and Baba Ramdev had already received a contempt notice from the Division Bench for their continued publication of deceptive advertisements in violation of an undertaking made to the Court in November of last year.