14 Patanjali Licences Suspended, Ramdev Exempt From Next Supreme Court Hearing

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 30, came down heavily on the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority (SLA) for "inaction" in the misleading advertising case against Patanjali Ayurved.

The court said that the the state body only "woke up" after repeated orders from the court. This, just a day after the Uttarakhand SLA said that they have revoked the licences of 14 products of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd and its sister concern Divya Pharmacy in an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court on Monday (April 29).

During the previous hearing of the matter the bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah had said that the court was dissatisfied with the public apology published by Patanjali Ayurved Limited for violating their undertaking to the court and continuing to publish misleading advertisements.

Examining the public apology submitted to the court, the bench noted that there's been a improvement in the nature of the apology.

They have, however, asked Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna to file on record the original pages of each of the newspapers in which the public apology was issued.

Furthermore, the court exempted Ramdev and Balkrishna from personal appearance for the next hearing in the case, which will be held on 17 May.

Action taken so far: According to an affidavit submitted by the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority (SLA) on 29 April, the manufacturing licenses of 14 products of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd and its sister concern Divya Pharmacy were suspended under Rule 159(1) of the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules 1954, on 15 April.

Further, the affidavit stated that a criminal complaint has been filed against Patanjali Ayurved, its Managing Director Acharya Balkris.

The products whose licenses have been suspended are,

• Swasari Gold

• Swasari Vati

• Bronchom

• Swasari Pravahi

• Swasari Avaleh

• Mukta Vati Extra Power

• Lipidom

• Bp Grit

• Madhugrit

• Madhunashini Vati Extra Power

• Livamrit Advance

• Livogrit

• Eyegrit Gold

• Patanjali Drishti Eye Drops

The Uttarakhand SLA also tendered an “unconditional and unqualified apology” to the Supreme Court for any “inadvertent and unintentional” non-compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court.

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