New Delhi [India], March 21 (HBTV): Patanjali Ayurved’s Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna has tendered an unqualified apology in the Supreme Court over the company’s alleged misleading advertisements.   

In an affidavit, Balkrishna said he submits an unqualified apology before the top court for the breach of the statement recorded in the order copy of the top court dated November 21, 2023.  

Acharya Balkrishna said he will ensure that such advertisements are not issued in the future and submitted that its intention was only to exhort the citizens of this country to lead a healthier life by consuming products of the Ayurvedic company, including products for lifestyle ailments, through the use of age-old literature and materials supplemented and backed by Ayurvedic research.   

"The deponent regrets that the advertisement in question, which was meant to contain only general statements, inadvertently included the offending sentences. The same was bona-fide and added to the routine course by the media department of the Respondent No. 5 Company. The personnel of the media department of the Respondent No. 5 Company were not cognizant of the order dated November 21, 2023," the affidavit read.  

Balkrishna submitted further that Schedule J of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, read with the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act 1955, is in ‘an archaic state.’ The last changes to it were introduced in 1996. The Drug & Cosmetic Act 1940, was passed when scientific evidence in Ayurveda research was lacking. 

The Ayurvedic Company now possesses evidence-based scientific data with clinical research conducted in Ayurveda, which would demonstrate the advances made through scientific research in the context of diseases mentioned in the said schedule.                             

The affidavit stated that the deponent's only quest was for a better and healthier life for every citizen and to reduce the burden on the country's healthcare infrastructure by providing holistic, evidence-based solutions for lifestyle-related medical complications through the use of age-old traditional approaches of Ayurveda and Yoga.     

The affidavit came as a response to the SC's earlier order, whereby the court sought from Balkrishna a response to the show-cause notice in contempt proceedings against him over alleged misleading advertisements of the company.