The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Patanjali Ayurved to recall medicines of which licenses were cancelled within three weeks. The Court reserved orders on the contempt petition against Yoga guru Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved MD Balkrishna and both contemnors appeared in Court.
Hearing the case, a bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah asked Patanjali Ayurved about its affidavit on the misleading advertisements and sale of products.
Advocate Balbir Singh, appearing for Patanjali, said they have written to all channels regarding advertisements. “A request is made on behalf of proposed contemnors seeking time to file affidavits indicating inter-alia that steps are being taken to recall ads of Patanjali products of which licenses have been suspended, and for recalling medicines. Needful be done within three weeks. It is stated that the affidavit is without prejudice of the right to assail the order of suspension. Orders are reserved on the contempt. Presence is dispensed with,” Live Law reported quoting the judgment.
During the hearing, Indian Medical Association (IMA) president R.V. Asokan unconditionally apologised to the bench for his statements made against the apex court in a recent interview with the PTI where he answered questions about Patanjali Ayurved's misleading advertisements case. "You can't sit on a couch giving an interview to the press and lampooning the court," Justice Kohli told Asokan.
The bench told the IMA's counsel that at this stage, the court was not inclined to accept the affidavit of apology tendered by the IMA president. While hearing the matter on May 7, the top court had termed as "very, very unacceptable" the statements made by Asokan.
The Supreme Court will next hear the case on July 9.
-with inputs from PTI.