In an affidavit, the Uttarakhand government informed the Supreme Court that it had been given permission to bring a complaint against Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. and Baba Ramdev’s Divya Pharmacy for persistently breaking the rule against drug marketing, and that it had also stopped the manufacturing licences for 14 of their goods.
The Uttarakhand government stated in the affidavit that the State Licencing Authority has published a notice to the public warning that publishing any advertising that violate the law will result in stern disciplinary action and legal action, which might include fines, jail time, or both.
The Drug Inspector, Haridwar, was authorised on April 12 to file a complaint against Divya Pharmacy and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. for repeated violations of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, according to the affidavit filed by the State Licencing Authority, Ayurvedic and Unani Services.
“The SLA issued an order, dated April 15, 2024, to Divya Pharmacy and Respondent No. 5-Patanjali Ayurved Ltd., stating therein that the manufacturing licenses for 14 of their products, namely ‘Swasari Gold’, ‘Swasari Vati, Bronchom’, ‘Swasari Pravahi’, ‘Swasari Avaleh’, ‘MuktaVati Extra Power’, ‘Lipidom’, ‘Bp Grit’, ‘Madhugrit’, ‘MadhunashiniVati Extra Power’, ‘Livamrit Advance’, ‘Livogrit’, ‘Eyegrit Gold’ and ‘Patanjali Drishti Eye Drop’, are suspended with immediate effect under Rule 159(1) of The Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945,” it said.
“The District Ayurvedic and Unani Officer, Haridwar filed a criminal complaint before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Haridwar against Swami Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna, Divya Pharmacy and Patanjali Ayurved Limited under Sections 3, 4 and 7 of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954,” the affidavit added.
The SLA declared that it will keep taking all necessary actions against Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. and Divya Pharmacy in accordance with the legal process and the rulings made by the Supreme Court.
The State Licencing Authority’s then-Joint Director and all other officers occupying the position of District Ayurvedic and Unani Officer, Haridwar, from 2018 to the present, were directed by the top court to file their separate affidavits justifying their inactivity, in an order dated April 10.
The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act forbids the promotion of specific products for the treatment of specific diseases and disorders, such as diabetes, heart disease, high or low blood pressure, and obesity. The Indian Medical Association has filed a lawsuit against Patanjali for violating this law.
The Ayurvedic company had previously promised the Supreme Court that it would not make any oblique claims about the medicinal benefits of its products, advertise or brand them illegally, or release any kind of statement to the media criticising any medical system.
