New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued a stern warning to states and union territories, cautioning them about potential contempt proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, for failing to act against misleading advertisements.
A bench led by Justice Abhay S. Oka criticised the Delhi government for citing difficulties in identifying offenders, describing their explanation as “peculiar.” The court has requested detailed status reports from other states on actions taken regarding complaints about misleading ads. Compliance reviews for states including Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, and Jammu & Kashmir have been scheduled for February 10, 2025.
Contempt Case Against IMA President Closed
In a separate matter, the Supreme Court closed contempt proceedings against Indian Medical Association (IMA) President R.V. Asokan after he issued an unconditional apology. The case stemmed from Asokan’s April 2024 comments, which criticised the court’s suggestion that allopathic doctors address unethical practices in modern medicine. Following the court’s directive, Asokan published an apology in leading newspapers, expressing regret for his remarks.
Meanwhile, the court is continuing to hear a petition filed by the IMA against advertisements by Patanjali Ayurved that allegedly disparaged allopathy and claimed to cure specific diseases. Patanjali, along with its representatives Yoga Guru Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna, has already issued apologies for the controversial advertisements.
This case underscores the judiciary’s commitment to tackling misleading advertising and ensuring accountability in the public interest.
