Patanjali case: Supreme Court orders IMA President to publish apology using own money [6.8.2024]

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed RV Asokan, President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), to issue apologies in major newspapers for his remarks criticising the court.

The Supreme Court bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta said that these apologies must be made by Asokan personally, not as a representative of the IMA, and that he must cover the costs himself.

"Apology needs to be tendered by you and from your own pocket, not IMA," the top court said.

The counsel representing the IMA, PS Patwalia, informed the court that the interview in question was provided to news agency PTI.

On this, Justice Kohli said, "Besides the ones you are referring to, which other publications was it [the interview] shared with? You have to send [the apology] to all of them. You cannot just wash your hands off. No assumptions here in your favour just because you say so. Your public apology has to be... You are inviting trouble on yourself and we are not taking your apology."

The apex court acknowledged Patwalia's plea to defer the contempt orders issued against Asokan, providing him with a period to take necessary actions to resolve the contempt issue.

The next hearing has been scheduled for September 2024.


06 Aug 2024