Center sitting with closed eye: SC tells over Patanjali ads

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday slapped an interim ban on ads of Patanjali Ayurved’s medicines. The apex court said the company can’t make claims that their medicines would treat ailments specified in the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act.

The bench also came down heavily on the Central government for “sitting with eyes closed” while the entire country was “taken for a ride”. The top court also issued contempt of court notices against founder Baba Ramdev and MD Acharya Balkrishna for flouting previous court orders and continuing to peddle misleading claims.

“The government is sitting with its eyes closed. This is very unfortunate. The government will have to take some immediate action,” said SC while hearing a plea by Indian Medical Association (IMA) alleging a smear campaign by Ramdev against the vaccination drive and modern medicines.

The court in November had threatened to impose a fine of INR 1 crore ($120,000) per false claim on the company. The bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah also said that Patanjali has been taking the country for a ride.

The Bench also took exception to one of the advertisements published by Patanjali after the November last year order of the apex court. It has now warned the company and its officers against making media statements against any system of medicine in any form as stated in their undertaking on November 21 last year.