SC stays AYUSH ministry's notification in Patanjali case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed a July 1 notification issued by the Ayush ministry that had scrapped a rule prohibiting misleading advertisements of Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani drugs.

- BHAVINI MISHRA

The apex court held that Rule 170 of Drugs and Cosmetic Rules 1945, which deals with prohibition of misleading advertisement of Ayurveda, Siddha or Unani drugs, shall remain in the statute book till further orders.

It has directed the ministry to file a response in this regard in the next date of the hearing.

The court was hearing a petition filed by India Medical Association (IMA) in 2022 accusing Patanjali and yoga guru Ramdev of conducting a smear campaign against allopathy.

During the course of hearing, the court also came down heavily on the IMA Chief RV Asokan over his publication of an apology in newspapers saying it was illegible and the font was miniscule.

"You just see the size of the publication... We have said that we can't read it. It is less than 0.1 cm, if you have any objection then tell us. We aren't able to read this," Justice Kohli said.