In a recent development, the Supreme Court of India has issued a stern warning to yoga guru Ramdev and Patanjali’s managing director Acharya Balkrishna for disobeying court orders that prohibited Patanjali Ayurved from running misleading advertisements on health cures. The court cautioned them against undermining other medical practices and questioned their actions in running down alternative forms of medicine.
The Supreme Court, during the proceedings, directly interacted with Ramdev and Balkrishna, highlighting their disregard for previous court orders despite warnings. The court gave them a week to take appropriate steps to demonstrate remorse and rectify their actions.
Ramdev and Balkrishna offered to issue a public apology, but the court emphasized the seriousness of the contempt charges. Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah questioned why they would denigrate other medical systems in a country with a rich heritage of diverse medical practices.
Ramdev expressed his apology and clarified that he never intended to disparage any form of medicine, including allopathy. He explained that a press conference conducted last year aimed to present clinical evidence and testimonials, not to undermine other medical systems.
The court reiterated that all actions must comply with the law and emphasized the importance of not degrading allopathy or any other system. It reminded Ramdev and Balkrishna of their responsibility towards public health and the expectations people have from them.
While Ramdev acknowledged his mistake and pledged to be more careful in the future, the court reserved its decision on accepting the apology. It pointed out that the apology should be sincere and not accompanied by justifications for past actions.
The court also emphasized the supremacy of institutions and the Constitution, indicating that personalities should not overshadow the importance of legal compliance and respect for diverse medical practices.
Sources By Agencies
