SC directs Ramdev and Balkrishna to issue public apology within one week
The Supreme Court warned yoga guru Ramdev and his associate Balkrishna on Tuesday, instructing them against any efforts to disparage allopathic medicine. The court granted them the opportunity to issue a “public apology and express remorse” within a week in the contempt proceedings related to misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd.
However, the court made it clear that this did not absolve them of responsibility and they are “off the hook” yet.
The Supreme Court was reviewing a petition filed in 2022 by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), alleging a campaign against the Covid vaccination drive and modern medicine systems.
Ramdev and Balkrishna, personally present in court, offered an unconditional apol
ogy. They expressed willingness to publicly apologise to demonstrate their regret.
“Do what you have to do by way of an advertisement, we are not commenting on it. But at this moment, we are not saying they are off the hook,” the bench, led by Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, told senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the duo.
They granted a week and scheduled the next hearing for April 23.
During the proceedings, the bench engaged with Ramdev and Balkrishna, questioning their actions in defiance of
court orders.
“We want to understand. Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna are both here. You have lot of prestige… people look at you, appreciate your works. You have done so many things for Yoga,” Justice Kohli told Ramdev.
Ramdev expressed regret for any mistakes and emphasised his respect for the court. Justice Kohli reminded him of a press conference he held after a previous court order, where Ramdev had pledged compliance.
Ramdev clarified that there was no intention to disrespect the court and acknowledged the error made in the pursuit of their endeavours.
Balkrishna also apologised, though the bench questioned the sincerity of their apologies.
“You can’t degrade allopathy. You do your work. You are doing very good work,” Justice Amanullah observed.
The bench said it had passed the November last year order after Patanjali’s counsel gave an undertaking.
“You did all this when there was a court order. You were not so innocent that you were not aware of what had happened in the court,” the bench said, adding, “So much innocence does not work in court”.
“If you are thinking that your lawyer has given an apology, we have not made up our minds yet whether to accept your apology,” it said.