NEW DELHI, Aug 23: Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev was in the line of firing from the Supreme Court bench headed by the chief justice of India NV Ramana on Tuesday for his disparaging remarks against allopathy and other systems of modern medicines while advertising for Patanjali, the company founded by him for marketing ayurvedic medicines.
The bench which also included Justices CT Ravi Kumar and Hima Kohli said Baba Ramdev can run campaigns to popularise Ayurveda, but should not criticise other systems. “Why is Baba Ramdev accusing Allopathy Doctors? He popularised yoga. Good. But he should not criticize other systems. What is the guarantee that what he follows will cure everything?” asked Chief Justice Ramana.
The Supreme Court made these observations while hearing a petition by Indian Medical Association (IMA), against the publication of “misleading” advertisements and “smear campaign” especially against allopathic medicines, their doctors, the Covid-19 vaccination drive and allopathic treatment. The bench also issued a notice to the centre seeking its reply on IMA’s plea.
“He cannot abuse doctors and the system. It is better he restrains himself from abusing other systems,” CJI Ramana remarked. The court has also sought responses from the Advertising Standards Council of India, Central Consumer Protection Authority of India, and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd.
The IMA counsel said advertisements even propagate that “bones will weaken”, “your immunity will go down”, etc. “They say that doctors were taking allopathic medicines but still succumbing to COVID. If this goes on, it will be a cause of serious prejudice to us,” the IMA submitted.
As the second wave of Covid-19 ravaged the country killing thousands, the Yoga guru reportedly called allopathy a “stupid and bankrupt” science. “Lakhs of people have died because of allopathic medicines, far more than those who died because they did not get treatment or oxygen,” he was heard saying in a video.
He had also claimed that several doctors in India died even after getting both doses of the coronavirus vaccine. The topmost doctors’ association had retorted saying he had damaged the reputation of practitioners of allopathy and modern medicine, while they were striving to save lives during the pandemic.
This is, however, not the only time that Ramdev has been chided for making controversial statements. Last week, the Delhi High Court had expressed concern over his statement about US President Joe Biden testing positive for COVID-19 despite a booster dose, thereby questioning the efficacy of allopathy.
“People are being named. It can have international consequences for our relations, country’s relations with foreign countries…. leaders are being named which will affect our good relations with foreign nations,” Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani had said.
“You are welcome to have your followers and disciples and people who believe you but don’t mislead the public by saying more than what is official… concern is to save the good name and reputation of Ayurveda. My aim [also] is nobody should be misled against allopathy,” the high court had observed on August 17. The bench was hearing a petition filed by various groups of doctors against Baba Ramdev for allegedly spreading misinformation concerning the use of Patanjali’s Coronil for Covid-19.
(Manas Dasgupta)