In the case of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) & Anr vs. Union of India and Ors, the Supreme Court came down heavily on the ayurvedic firm Patanjali by Baba Ramdev for continuing to carry out misleading and false claims of cures for a plethora of diseases, despite previous warnings. Earlier in November 2023, the SC warned the company of a penalty of up to one crore per ad for carrying out any ad. The court chided Patanjali for having “the courage and guts to still come up with advertisements,” despite the orders. The apex court imposed a temporary ban on the company’s advertisement. The SC, in its interim order, stated that Patanjali cannot market or advertise any products claiming to cure ailments specified in the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act. The SC bench, led by justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, also rapped the union government for failing to tackle the menace of misleading advertisements despite the petition filed in 2022. Justice Amanullah rebuked the additional solicitor general, “The entire country has been taken for a ride! For 2 years, you wait when the Drugs Act says this is prohibited?”
https://t.co/0eSYnuALZk pic.twitter.com/L0TgSEu8ad
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) February 27, 2024
[BREAKING] Supreme Court slaps temporary ban on Patanjali medicine ads for “taking country for a ride”#Patanjali #SupremeCourt
Read more: https://t.co/vKpcH1GmRk pic.twitter.com/TWPlKG2UmW
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) February 27, 2024
We issue notice to show cause (to Ramdev and Acharya Balakrishnan) as to why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them: Supreme Court#SupremeCourt #SupremeCourtofindia pic.twitter.com/jYOXqv8p4d
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) February 27, 2024
Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah: I have brought printouts and annexures. We are going to pass a very strict order today. Go through it. How can you say you will cure? Despite our warning you are saying our things are better than chemical based medicines? Mr Nataraj you also have…
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) February 27, 2024
Justice Amanullah had said: You had the courage and guts to still come up with this advertisements after our order, you are tempting the Court!#SupremeCourt
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) February 27, 2024
Reactions poured in from all quarters, with a motley crew of ardent Ayurvedic apologists defending the company and slamming SC’s judgment, while taking a dig at the pharma industry. However, for the more rational citizens, it was a collective sigh of relief. Amid plenty of memes taking potshots at Baba Ramdev, a few netizens remarked that he won’t be able to overcome the mess now by bribing the center, even as SC has struck down electoral bonds. Another quipped, “Baba yoga tak he rehta toh achha hota!” Dr. Abby Philips, popularly known as the Liver Doc on social media, dubbed the “bashing of the charlatan Baba Ramdev, and his pseudoscientific Ayurvedic endeavor, and their obnoxious anti-science advertisements” by the SC as even better than the best IPL.
Baba Yoga tak hi rehte toh achha tha .. 😐
— Anamika | अनामिका (@Anamika_Anaa) February 27, 2024
Now Baba Ramdev can’t even buy electoral bonds to get out of the mess.
— Basharath (بشارت علی) (@BasharathAli2) February 27, 2024
Finally 🙏 https://t.co/hNn7PhSrTz
— Atul Khatri (@one_by_two) February 27, 2024
Remember this episode? India Today shamelessly plugging Ramdev and Patanjali. If the media did its job matters concerning jokers like him not have to burden courts. #Patanjali #Ramdev Incidentally India Today took us to court for this 😏https://t.co/tYGdMK6SWb
— Abhinandan Sekhri (@AbhinandanSekhr) February 27, 2024
I am not sure if anyone is following this, but the Supreme Court of India pummeling the charlatan Baba Ramdev, his pseudoscientific balderdash Ayurveda company and their obnoxious anti-science advertisements is better than the best Indian Premier League Cricket seasons you’ve… https://t.co/BLeVEBC85Q
— TheLiverDoc (@theliverdr) February 27, 2024
pic.twitter.com/KoD1yIEFfQ
— Sourgasm(Blue Tickle) (@Churanetor) February 27, 2024
Umm…hello CJI? Wonder what the vegan, ayurveda proponent chief justice makes of this order.
Example of The Chilling Effect:
“When punishment for what people say becomes widespread, people stop saying what they really think and instead say whatever is needed to thrive in the social environment. Thus, limits on speech become limits on sincerity.” https://t.co/koT32GUYqJ
— TheLiverDoc (@theliverdr) February 22, 2024
I am quite disappointed that our Chief Justice spoke about using #Ayush / #ayurvedicmedicine during #COVID-19.
We should realize that there is NO scientific evidence of any ayurvedic drug being effective against the coronavirus. In fact, the evidence for ANY drug (from any…
— Dr Ambrish Mithal (@DrAmbrishMithal) February 22, 2024
See Also: National Medical Commission’s Rebranded Logo Featuring Hindu Deity And ‘Bharat’ Sparks Online Debate
