In a relief to Patanjali Ayurveda and yoga gurus Swami Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna, the Supreme Court has closed the contempt of court case against them.
The court gave a stern warning to both of them, saying that if they do anything in violation of the court’s orders, as had happened earlier, the court will give strict punishment.
The bench of Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah delivered the verdict on Tuesday (August 13). On May 14, the Supreme Court had reserved its decision on the contempt notice.
The Supreme Court had heard the petition of the Indian Medical Association, in which it was accused of defaming Covid vaccination and allopathy.
The whole matter in 5 points
- The contempt case was initiated on August 17, 2022, on a petition by the Indian Medical Association (IMA).
- This was against Patanjali’s advertisements. Patanjali had declared allopathy ineffective and claimed to cure some diseases.
- After hearings and rebuke in the Supreme Court, Patanjali had assured in November 2023 that it would stay away from such advertisements.
- In February 2024, the court issued a contempt notice to the company and its MD after Patanjali’s misleading advertisements continued.
- As no reply was received to the contempt notice in March 2024, the court ordered Patanjali MD Balkrishna and Baba Ramdev to appear in person.
- In April 2024, Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna appeared in the court and tendered an unconditional apology for their comments on allopathic medicines.