Supreme Court Rebukes Medical Body Chief in Patanjali Case: Calls for Self-Restraint

The President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dr. RV Asokan, has come under fire from the Supreme Court for his comments during an interview regarding the court’s ruling in a case against Patanjali Ayurved, a company founded by Yoga guru Ramdev and his aide Balkrishna. In the interview, Dr. Asokan criticized the court’s ruling, which was concerning as IMA is the petitioner in the case against Patanjali for misleading claims about its products.

During the court proceedings, the bench of Justice Hima Kohli and Justice A. Amanullah expressed disappointment with Dr. Asokan’s remarks, stating that more responsibility was expected from him and that he should not have expressed his feelings against the court in the press. Dr. Asokan offered an unconditional apology, but the court questioned the sincerity of his apology and his failure to issue a public apology.

The bench emphasized the need for self-restraint, particularly for someone in Dr. Asokan’s position as the president of IMA. They highlighted the importance of discretion and responsibility in speech, stating that judges face criticism but react with magnanimity and restraint.

The court expressed dissatisfaction with the affidavit submitted by Dr. Asokan, describing it as “too little, too late.” The court also highlighted the implications of Dr. Asokan’s interview on the case against Patanjali, with the matter being scheduled for the next hearing on July 9.

The case against Patanjali has seen a shift in dynamics, with the court previously admonishing the company’s founders over misleading advertisements. The IMA president’s interview has garnered attention and scrutiny, leading to the court’s intervention and questioning of his actions.