During the hearing on Tuesday (April 23), the Supreme Court raised questions to yoga guru Baba Ramdev regarding the public apologies issued in his newspapers regarding the misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurveda. Specifically, the court asked Baba Ramdev a significant question: “Is your apology as big as the misleading advertisement you ran?” Additionally, the court questioned why the public apologies were issued even before the hearing of the case in the Supreme Court.
In the midst of these proceedings, it has been revealed that Patanjali Ayurveda has issued public apologies in 67 newspapers, where they have also claimed that they will not repeat the mistake and there will be no more misleading advertisements in the future. They have assured the Supreme Court of their commitment to support the dignity of the court and the Constitution.
Furthermore, the case’s hearing in the Supreme Court has been postponed, and now the matters concerning Baba Ramdev and Patanjali’s MD, Balkrishna, will be heard on April 30. The remaining seven points of contention are scheduled for hearing on May 7.
Is the Size of the Apology Equivalent to the Advertisement? – Court
According to a report by India Today, Patanjali has stated in the Supreme Court that nearly ₹10 lakh have been spent on publishing public apologies. Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah of the bench also questioned Baba Ramdev why the public apologies were issued before the Supreme Court’s hearing. Justice Kohli also asked, “Is the size of the apology equivalent to the advertisement?”
In this ongoing legal battle, the Supreme Court’s scrutiny highlights the accountability of corporations in advertising practices and underscores the importance of transparency and truthfulness in marketing communications. The court’s questions reflect a commitment to ensuring that advertisements do not mislead consumers and that companies take responsibility for their promotional content. As the case progresses, it remains to be seen how the court will address the issues raised and what implications it may have for the advertising industry as a whole.