The Supreme Court
has summoned Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna to appear personally
in court for failing to respond to a show cause notice in contempt proceedings
related to misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurved.
Senior Advocate
Mukul Rohtagi, representing Patanjali, argued that violation of the law was not
contempt of court. However, the bench, comprising justices Hima Kohli and
Ahsanuddin Amanullah, passed the order for Ramdev to appear personally in the
next hearing.
Notices were
issued to Patanjali Ayurved and its managing director, Acharya Balkrishna, questioning
their violation of court orders and warning of potential contempt proceedings.
The bench remarked that Balkrishna and Ramdev were prima facie violating
Sections 3 and 4 of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements)
Act, 1954.
The court's directive
comes after its criticism of Patanjali Ayurved on February 27 for disseminating
misleading advertisements. These advertisements claimed to treat medical
conditions such as BP, diabetes, fevers, epilepsy, and lupus.