The
Supreme Court has asked the Uttarakhand government to decide on the suspension
of 14 Ayurvedic products by Patanjali and Divya Pharmacy. During the hearing of
the Patanjali misleading advertisements case on Tuesday (July 30), the
two-judge Supreme Court bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta also
asked the state government to file a report on the matter within two weeks.
The
sales of these 14 products were earlier suspended by the Uttarakhand
government. However, the suspension order was cancelled on July 1, and a fresh
decision on the issue is now pending with the state government.
During
the hearing, the counsel appearing for the petitioner, Indian Medical
Association (IMA), submitted that 14 medicines are available over-the-counter
even though Patanjali had earlier stopped their manufacture in view of the
suspension of the relevant licences.
In
response, Baba Ramdev-led Patanjali told the apex court that the suspension
order was cancelled by the state government on July 1, after considering a
report submitted by a panel constituted to look into the matter.
The
14 drugs in question are -- Swasari Gold, Swasari Vati, Bronchom, Swasari
Pravahi, Swasari Avaleh, Mukta Vati Extra Power, Lipidom, BP Grit, Madhugrit,
Madhunashini Vati Extra Power, Livamrit Advance, Livogrit, Eyegrit Gold, and
Patanjali Drishti Eye Drop.
A
case was filed against Patanjali Ayurved by the IMA for its
"misleading" claims and "disparaging" advertisements
against the allopathic system of medicines. During the hearing of the case,
Patanjali had given an undertaking to the court that no such statements would
be made in the future.
However,
the misleading advertisements continued, according to the IMA. Later, the court
initiated contempt proceedings against Patanjali managing director Acharya
Balkrishna and co-founder Baba Ramdev. After the court's reprimand, Patanjali
had to publish an apology in newspapers.