Achi news desk-
GUWAHATI: Acharya Balakrishna, the CEO of Patanjali Ayurveda, has issued an apology to the Supreme Court of India for breaching the undertaking filed by the company in the Supreme Court and continuing to publish advertisements regarding medicinal cures.
The apology comes just two days after the Supreme Court on March 19 ordered Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balakrishna to appear in court in person in a contempt case over the publication of the advertisements.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, had earlier issued a contempt notice to Patanjali Ayurved and its director for continuing to publish advertisements despite the assurance given by the company’s counsel to the court that it would refrain from doing such acts.
Also Read: Sadhguru is recovering well after brain surgery
The Supreme Court issued an order on February 27 prohibiting Patanjali Ayurveda from advertising or branding its products intended to treat diseases and disorders listed in the Drugs and Magic (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, while also cautioning the company against making any statement against any system of medicine.
The affidavit submitted by Balakrishna states that the advertisement in question was intended to contain only general statements and inadvertently included the offending penalties as the media persons were not aware of the order from November, when the company submitted the undertaking to the court.
Click here to join our WhatsApp channel
“For the sake of clarification, not as a defense, the respondent wishes to claim that her intention is only to urge the citizens of this country to lead a healthier life by consuming products of the respondent No. 5, including products for lifestyle diseases through the use of ancient literature and materials that are complementary and backed by Ayurvedic research,” it says More in the affidavit.
In addition, Balkarishna further termed the February 27 order as “in an archaic state”, and argued that the Drugs and Magic (Objectionable Advertisements) Act of 1955 was in law. "Archaic country" As it was enacted at a time when scientific evidence on Ayurvedic medicines was lacking.
He went on to claim that Patanjali now has “evidence-based scientific data with clinical research conducted in Ayurveda, which will prove the progress made through scientific research in the context of diseases” mentioned in the schedule of drugs and magic (objectionable advertisements) action.
The Supreme Court will hear the case now on April 2.
