Supreme Court says Patanjali apology in newspapers should be of same size as its advertisements

Supreme Court says Patanjali apology in newspapers should be of same size as its advertisements

NEW DELHI: Hearing a case on misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurved, the Supreme Court of India on Tuesday said that the Ramdev-owned company’s public apology in newspapers should be of same size in which it advertises its products.

Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Ramdev, said that an apology has been published in newspapers. But the Supreme Court reprimanded him on why the apology was published yesterday only.

The SC said that FMCG firms cannot be allowed to take people of this country – particularly babies, children and senior citizen – for a ride as they are influenced by misleading advertisements and the Union government must wake up to this.

Expanding the ambit of its proceedings on misleading advertisements which was earlier confined only to Patanjali Ayurveda products, the SC asked Centre on action it has taken against other FMCG companies for giving misleading advertisements.

The SC said that it was asking questions to the ministry of consumer affairs, ministry of information and broadcasting as co-respondents (in the case). State licensing authorities across the country will also be added as parties and they too need to answer certain questions, says Supreme Court.

The SC also told Indian Medical Association (IMA) that while it was pointing fingers at Patanjali, four fingers were pointing at them. “Your doctors also endorsing medicines in the allopathic field. If that’s happening, why should we not turn the beam at you?”

The SC deferred hearing on contempt proceedings against Patanjali founders Ramdev and Balkrishna as they could not file affidavit on public apology published in newspapers. The apex court will now hear the case on April 30 and directed them to be present in court on that day also.

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