New Delhi, Apr 9 (PTI) Yoga guru Ramdev and managing director of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd Acharya Balkrishna have tendered “unconditional and unqualified apology” earlier than the Supreme Courtroom over ads issued by the agency making tall claims concerning the medicinal efficacy of its merchandise.
In two separate affidavits filed within the apex court docket, Ramdev and Balkrishna tendered unqualified apology for the “breach of the assertion” recorded within the November 21 final yr order of the apex court docket.
Within the November 21, 2023 order, the highest court docket had famous that counsel representing Patanjali Ayurved had assured it that “henceforth there shall not be any violation of any legislation(s), particularly regarding promoting or branding of merchandise manufactured and marketed by it and, additional, that no informal statements claiming medicinal efficacy or towards any system of drugs shall be launched to the media in any kind”.
The highest court docket had stated Patanjali Ayurved Ltd is “certain right down to such assurance”.
The non-observance of the precise assurance and the following media statements irked the apex court docket, which later issued discover to them to indicate trigger as to why contempt proceedings be not initiated towards them.
In his affidavit filed within the high court docket, Ramdev has stated, “I hereby tender my unconditional apology in regard to the problem of ads which occurred after the assertion of counsel of respondent no. 5 (Patanjali) which was recorded within the order dated November 21, 2023, which I’m knowledgeable has the power of an injunction.” “I sincerely remorse this lapse and I want to guarantee the court docket that the identical won’t be repeated,” he stated, including, “I hereby tender an unconditional and unqualified apology for the breach of the assertion recorded in para 3 of the order of this court docket dated November 21, 2023”.
He stated the assertion shall be complied with in letter and spirit and no such related ads shall be issued.
Ramdev additionally tendered unconditional apology for the press convention held on November 22 final yr and undertook to not make any public statements which can quantity to breach of the enterprise given earlier than the court docket.
“I remorse this lapse and guarantee that the identical won’t be repeated once more in future,” he stated, including, “I search pardon for the aforesaid breach of the assertion. I undertake to all the time uphold the majesty of legislation and majesty of justice”.
Equally, Balkrishna additionally tendered an unconditional apology for the breach of the assertion recorded within the apex court docket’s November 21 final yr order.
“I sincerely remorse the problem of ads from respondent no. 5 (Patanjali) which is an infraction of the order dated November 21, 2023. I tender my unconditional and unqualified apology on this regard, alone behalf and that of respondent no 5,” he stated.
“I by no means had any intention to violate orders of this court docket. I state that no such lapse will happen in future. I’ll all the time uphold the majesty of legislation,” Balkrishna stated in his affidavit.
A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah is scheduled to listen to the matter on Wednesday. On April 2, the highest court docket had come down exhausting on Ramdev and Balkrishna and rejected their apology as “lip service”.
It had additionally questioned the Centre’s alleged inaction over Patanjali’s tall claims concerning the efficacy of its merchandise and denigrating allopathy throughout the Covid peak and requested why the federal government selected to maintain its “eyes shut”.
It had strongly disapproved of Balkrishna’s assertion that the Medication and Cosmetics (Magic Cures) Act was “archaic” and stated Patanjali Ayurved’s ads have been within the “tooth of the Act” and violated with impunity the enterprise given to the court docket.
The apex court docket is listening to a plea filed by the Indian Medical Affiliation (IMA) alleging a smear marketing campaign towards the vaccination drive and fashionable medicines.
On March 19, the court docket had directed Ramdev and Balkrishna to seem earlier than it after taking exception to the corporate’s failure to reply to the discover issued within the case regarding ads of the agency’s merchandise and their medicinal efficacy.
The highest court docket had stated it deemed it applicable to situation Ramdev a present trigger discover as ads issued by Patanjali, which have been within the tooth of the enterprise given to the court docket on November 21, 2023, replicate an endorsement by him.
(This report has been revealed as a part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Other than the headline, no modifying has been carried out within the copy by ABP Reside.)