In the ongoing Patanjali proceedings, the Supreme Court bench consisting of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah has severely criticized the company’s founders, Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna. The court dismissed Ramdev’s previous unconditional apologies as inadequate, despite his earlier promise to refrain from making misleading claims. The justices also rebuked both the Uttarakhand state government and the central government for their inaction while Patanjali continued to air misleading advertisements.
During Tuesday’s hearing on April 23, the court questioned Baba Ramdev and Balkrishna about Patanjali’s apologies, which were published in 67 different publications at a cost of lakhs of rupees. Justice Kohli expressed dissatisfaction with the small size of the apologies, saying, “You spend so much money on advertisements and publish such small apologies that they are barely visible.”
The court further criticized Patanjali, stating that it wanted to examine the actual size of the advertisements, not just enlarged photocopies. Justice Kohli remarked, “We want to see the real size. We are not going to decide on the basis of photocopies. Let us not waste the court’s time.”
The Supreme Court also scrutinized the Indian Medical Association, which represents the petitioners in the case, regarding certain doctors’ endorsements of allopathy. Justice Kohli noted, “We have received complaints against doctors too. They are not supposed to endorse products.” The bench expressed concern about the proliferation of misleading advertisements by various FMCGs (fast-moving consumer goods) companies that target vulnerable populations, such as infants, schoolchildren, and senior citizens.
The court’s recent actions demonstrate its resolve to hold companies accountable for making false and misleading advertising claims. The outcome of this case is expected to have a significant impact on the advertising industry, particularly in the healthcare sector.
