In a recent legal development, the Supreme Court of India took a firm stance against Patanjali Ayurved, the popular Indian consumer goods company founded by Yoga guru Baba Ramdev. The court imposed a temporary ban on Patanjali’s advertisements and reminded the company to cease its “false and misleading” campaigns that claimed miraculous remedies through their products¹.

Background

Patanjali Ayurved has been a prominent player in the Indian market, offering a wide range of products, including herbal medicines, personal care items, and food products. However, the company’s aggressive advertising campaigns have drawn scrutiny and criticism from various quarters.

The Allegations

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) filed a petition against Patanjali in August 2022, highlighting several instances where the company’s advertisements made false claims about curing diseases and attacked allopathic medicine. Some key allegations include:

1. Misleading Advertisements: Patanjali published an advertisement titled “MISCONCEPTIONS SPREAD BY ALLOPATHY: SAVE YOURSELF AND THE COUNTRY FROM THE MISCONCEPTIONS SPREAD BY PHARMA AND MEDICAL INDUSTRY.” This ad directly attacked allopathic medicine and spread misinformation².
2. Statements Against Allopathy: Baba Ramdev publicly called allopathy a “stupid and bankrupt science” and made claims about allopathic medicine being responsible for Covid-19 deaths. These statements contributed to vaccine hesitancy during the pandemic².
3. Continuous Misinformation: The IMA accused Patanjali of systematically spreading false information about allopathic medicine while promoting its own products. This continuous misinformation campaign raised serious concerns².

Legal Implications

The Supreme Court’s decision was based on the following legal grounds:

1. Drugs & Other Magical Remedies Act, 1954 (DOMA): The advertisement violated Section 4 of the DOMA, which prohibits publishing misleading advertisements related to drugs. Patanjali’s claims about curing diseases through its products fell under this category².
2. Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (CPA): The false and misleading advertisements also violated the CPA, which aims to protect consumers from deceptive practices. Patanjali’s actions were deemed an offence under both statutes².

The Court’s Verdict

The Supreme Court issued a contempt-of-court notice to Patanjali Ayurved and its managing director, Acharya Balkrishna, for violating the court’s previous order. The court also restrained Patanjali from advertising its medical products until further orders are passed³.

Conclusion

The temporary ban on Patanjali’s advertisements underscores the importance of responsible advertising and the need to protect consumers from misleading claims. As the legal battle continues, it serves as a reminder to all companies to uphold ethical standards and provide accurate information to the public.

Note: The views expressed in this blog are based on factual information and legal proceedings