Baba Ramdev offers public apology in Supreme Court | Fusion - WeRIndia

Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurved Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna extended a personal apology to the Supreme Court on Tuesday. They acknowledge the breach of court orders.

The apology came after the court criticized their conduct related to a recent press conference and advertisements, which were deemed in violation of a prior court undertaking.

The controversy stemmed from events where Ramdev held a press conference on November 22, 2023, in Haridwar, and Patanjali Ayurved released an advertisement on December 4, 2023.

These actions directly contradicted an undertaking submitted to the court on November 21, 2023. It was followed by a petition by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which challenged their public claims regarding alternative medicine practices.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the duo, expressed their readiness to issue a public apology to demonstrate their remorse and commitment to adhere to judicial directives in the future.

He conveyed to the bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah that the actions were a result of impulse and assured the court that such incidents would not recur.

Justice Kohli questioned Ramdev’s decision to disparage other medical systems and parade patients on stage, suggesting he should instead engage with the interdisciplinary medical committee.

Responding to the bench, Ramdev acknowledged the impact of his actions on his large following. He also pledged to maintain a heightened awareness to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

The court, while considering the apologies and submissions, decided not to accept the apology outright but noted the proposed contemnors’ intention to redeem themselves.

The hearing has been adjourned to April 23, allowing Ramdev and Balkrishna time to formulate further steps to solidify their commitment to compliance with the court’s orders.

The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between traditional Indian medical practices promoted by figures like Ramdev and the mainstream medical community, represented by bodies such as the IMA.

This case continues to draw significant public and media attention. It reflects broader debates over medical ethics and the responsibilities of public figures in healthcare.

Image Credit: Pinakpani, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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