New Delhi: Patanjali Ayurved Ltd informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday that it has halted the sale of 14 products whose manufacturing licences were suspended by the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority in April. The company conveyed to a bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta that it has directed 5,606 franchise stores to withdraw these products from their shelves. Additionally, it has instructed media platforms to cease all advertisements related to these 14 products.

The bench directed Patanjali Ayurved Ltd to submit an affidavit within two weeks confirming whether its requests to social media intermediaries for the removal of advertisements have been complied with, and whether advertisements of the 14 products have indeed been withdrawn. The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on July 30.

This development arises from a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) alleging a smear campaign by Patanjali against the Covid vaccination drive and modern systems of medicine. Earlier, the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority had informed the apex court about the immediate suspension of manufacturing licences for 14 products of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd and Divya Pharmacy.

The Supreme Court had previously reserved its order on a contempt notice issued to yoga guru Ramdev, his aide Balkrishna, and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd in connection with misleading advertisements.

Meanwhile, Dr. R V Asokan, the Chief of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), issued a public apology on Thursday for his remarks made in an interview regarding a comment made by the Supreme Court during a case involving the IMA. He expressed regret for his statement, clarifying that it was never his intention to undermine the dignity of the court.

"The IMA National President, Dr. R V Asokan, has issued an apology, expressing regret for his remarks to the press concerning a remark made by the Supreme Court during the IMA's involvement in the case," stated the doctors' association in a released statement.

Dr. Asokan further emphasized that the IMA shares equal concern regarding issues of malpractice, referring to the Supreme Court's observation on April 23 during the hearing of a case related to misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. The court had noted its view that the IMA also needed to address internal matters.

Additionally, Dr. Asokan filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court tendering an unconditional apology for his earlier statement concerning the court.

"IMA has filed a writ petition before the Supreme Court against misleading advertisements and malicious campaigns by some persons and entities against modern medicine professionals. With reference to certain statements made by me during an interview with PTI News, I have expressed regret to the Supreme Court and have also submitted my affidavit to the court for tendering my unconditional apology," Dr Asokan said. "I never had any intention to lower the majesty or dignity of the Supreme Court," he added in his apology.

"There are several complaints relating to the alleged unethical acts on the part of the members of the Association who are abusing the trust reposed in them by patients and not only prescribing prohibitively expensive medicines, but also recommending avoidable/unnecessary investigations as a part of the line of treatment, for purely extraneous considerations," the bench had said.

PTI