In a significant development, the Supreme Court has issued a strong caution to Patanjali Ayurveda, instructing the company to refrain from making misleading claims targeting modern medicines and vaccinations. This directive follows a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), expressing concerns over Patanjali’s advertising practices.
A Bench comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Prashant Kumar Mishra emphasized that the issue at hand should not be framed as a debate between allopathy/modern medicine and Ayurvedic products. The court has explicitly directed Patanjali to cease all false and misleading advertisements immediately. Justice Amanullah stated that the court takes such infractions seriously and may impose penalties of up to Rs 1 crore on each product that falsely claims to cure a particular disease.
The court’s intervention comes in response to the IMA’s apprehensions regarding Patanjali’s campaigns, which appeared to criticize modern medicine and vaccination efforts. The Bench underscored the need for responsible advertising in the healthcare sector, emphasizing the potential harm caused by misleading information.
In addition to addressing the specific concerns related to Patanjali, the Supreme Court has urged the Union to present a comprehensive proposal aimed at tackling misleading medical advertisements on a broader scale. This move reflects a proactive approach to safeguarding public health and ensuring that advertising practices in the medical field adhere to ethical standards.
