SC asks Patanjali to file affidavit on whether ads promoting 14 products withdrawn
Thursday, 11 JULY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
In a fresh development pertaining to the misleading advertisement case involving Patanjali Ayurved Ltd and Indian Medical Association, the Supreme Court directed Patanjali Ayurved Ltd to file an affidavit stating whether advertisements of its 14 products whose manufacturing licences were initially suspended but later restored have been withdrawn. Notably, the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority had on April 15 issued an order suspending the manufacturing licences of 14 products of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd and Divya Pharmacy. The state licensing authority had filed an affidavit in the apex court on May 17, stating that the suspension order has been cancelled following a report by a high-level committee which examined the grievances of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd in the wake of the controversy.
However, during the hearing held on July 9, a bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta took note of Patanjali’s May 16 affidavit in which the firm had stated that the sale of these 14 products had been stopped in the light of the April 15 suspension order. The affidavit had further stated that the company had also taken steps to remove the related advertisements from its official verified social media accounts/handles.
Notably, the apex court had on May 14 reserved its order on the contempt notice issued to Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd in the misleading advertisements case.
The bench has posted the matter for further hearing on July 30.
