Supreme Court Now Pulls Up Patanjali Over Size Of Apology Published In Newspapers, Asks IMA To "Put Its House In Order"

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (23 April) again criticised Patanjali Ayurved over its apology put out in newspapers by pointing out that it was not similar to the full-page advertisements it published for its products.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Patanjali founders Ramdev and Balkrishna, submitted that the apology was published in 67 newspapers at a cost of Rs 10 lakh.

However, Justice Hima Kohli questioned, "Has the apology been published prominently? Same font and size as your earlier advertisements?" expressing that it does not care about the money spent on the apology.

The matter is now adjourned for a week as Ramdev committed to publish a bigger apology in newspapers. The Patanjali lawyers are required to bring on record the copy of the apology advertisements.

"Cut the actual newspaper clippings and keep them handy. For you to photocopy by enlarging, it may not impress us. We want to see the actual size of the ad. When you issue an apology, it does not mean that we have to see it by a microscope," Justice Kohli said.

The bench also commented on the petitioner Indian Medical Association and asked it to "put its house in order" by acknowledging complaints of alleged unethical conduct by IMA doctors.

The hearing was in a contempt case where the court considers that Patanjali publishing "misleading" medical advertisements was in violation of an undertaking it gave to the Supreme Court in November last year.