Supreme court ends IMA case against Patanjali on misleading ads

NEW DELHI: Bringing down the curtain on the proceedings initiated against misleading advertisements for medicinal products , the Supreme Court has closed the case filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) against Patanjali Ayurved and its founders.

A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and K V Viswanathan said no further hearing was needed as the court had already passed various orders and the purpose of the case had been achieved. "By various orders, the prayers of the WP have been achieved and do not survive for further consideration. Hence, the writ petition stands disposed of. Liberty is allowed to the parties to approach the high court if they have any problems," the bench said in its order. The apex court had in Aug last year itself granted relief to Patanjali Ayurved founders Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna, who had been facing the prospect of contempt of court, and closed the contempt proceedings against them by accepting their unconditional apology.

The SC had initiated contempt proceedings against them on Feb 27 last year.

The contempt petition was filed by IMA which moved the court over the misleading advertisements that targeted allopathy treatment. It said the company and its promoters were denigrating the allopathy branch of medicine, which should not be permitted.