Uttarakhand Officer Pleads 'Please Spare Me' as Supreme Court Criticizes Patanjali Ads

case arises out of a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association against Patanjali's advertisements attacking allopathy and making claims about curing certain diseases. [Credit: PUNE PLUSE]

Supreme Court Criticizes Patanjali Ads: Supreme Court rips Uttarakhand's drug licensing authority on Wednesday, demanding answers to why and how it failed to act against misleading ads for Coronil, a preparation touted as a cure for COVID-19, floated by Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurved.

As a result of what the bench sees as insincere apologies from the company and its founders, Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah took aim at Dr Mithilesh Kumar, the Joint Director of the state's Food and Drug Administration, who begged for mercy with folded hands at one point.

As Dr Kumar asked the court, "Please spare me..." "I came in June 2023... this happened before me."

However, the court refused to budge.

"Why should we? What actions did you take?" Justice Kohli asked. "One man seeks mercy, but what about the innocent people who took these medicines?" he asked.

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A contempt of court notice had been issued to them in response to a lawsuit by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) alleging that they had published misleading advertisements, claimed cures for some diseases, and criticized the allopathy branch of medicine. The apology was offered in response.

A show cause notice was issued for allegedly flouting a court undertaking on November 21, 2023, in which they promised not to make "casual statements claiming medicinal efficacy or attacking any medical system".

In alleged violation of the November 21, 2023, undertaking, Ramdev held a press conference in Haridwar on November 22, 2023, and the company issued an advertisement on December 4, 2023.

It showed little sympathy for the official or for the drug licensing authority, and suspended three of its officers. Minutes earlier, the court fiercely censured Patanjali Ayurved and co-founders Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balakrishna for repeatedly violating its orders and filing improper affidavits.

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Court Remarks On Patanjali Ads

"Now their backs are to the wall... they say 'we're issuing warnings'," the court roared, dismissing arguments the Uttarakhand FDA acted by slapping Patanjali.

"In 2021 the (Union Health) Ministry wrote to the Uttarakhand licensing authority against a misleading advertisement. However, the authority let off the company with a warning. The 1954 act does not provide for warning and there is no provision for compounding the offence," the court sai.

There is a law in question called the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act.

It happened six times... back and forth... and no report was filed by the officer (in charge)... the person appointed subsequently acted in the same manner," the Supreme Court stated.

Taking Dr Kumar to task, the court asked him why he did not seek legal advice when presented with the Health Ministry's notice. "Did you read the law? Did you think a warning was enough? What is the provision in this law? What steps did you take?"

The officer said, "We'll register now."

"No... now you just sit at home for a few days. Or you can sit in office and write letters. You are playing with the public's health!" the court responded curtly.

Last week, Patanjali Ayurved's co-founders were criticized for "absolute defiance" of the highest court, which led to today's blistering takedown of the state drug authority.

In response to the company's "shocking" advertisements that ridiculed contemporary medicine, justices Kohli and Amanullah asked the centre's AYUSH Ministry why it had not taken action.

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