Meanwhile, in Amethi, another gory incident took place. The Delhi High Court passed an order requiring yoga guru Ramdev to withdraw his statement that ‘Coronil’ is a cure for COVID-19 but only an immunity booster. The court gave Ramdev three days to adhere to the order.
The directive was given after the court received a case filed by several doctors’ associations against Ramdev, his accomplice Acharya Balkrishna, and Patanjali Ayurveda Limited.
It said the petitioners were alleging that Ramdev was making ‘hearty claims’ about ‘Coronil’ as a cure for COVID-19 despite the drug being licensed only as an ‘Immuno-booster’.
Justice Anup Bhambhani heard the bail application on May 21 after hearing the parties and reserved the order on the lawsuit. When giving the order, the judge stated that Ramdev must take down the contested claims within 3 days. The doctors’ associations have asked for a direction that should bar Ramdev and other similar personalities from making such statements.
The petitioners contended that Ramdev, an extremely influential personality, is conducting a ‘misinformation campaign’ and using a ‘marketing gimmick’ to promote Coronil and other Patanjali products and create doubt on the effectiveness of ‘allopathic remedy’ for COVID-19 and vaccines.
This is just after the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration in Uttar Pradesh passed an order banning 14 Ayurvedic medicines produced by Divya Pharmacy and Patanjali Ayurveda Limited on July 12.
Furthermore, The Supreme Court also, on the same date, had ordered Patanjali Ayurved Ltd to file an affidavit and provide information that it has pulled out the advertisements of its 14 products for which the manufacturing and selling license was initially suspended but has been reinstated.
The existing stance of the Delhi High Court in its recent directive has reinforced the judiciary’s proactive stand against false narration regarding remedies against COVID-19 that cover the domain of public health and safety. The question here is where and how Ramdev and his associated entities will approach the court’s order in the days to come.
