The Delhi High Court issued an interim order on Monday directing Baba Ramdev, Acharya Bal Krishan, and others to remove statements and posts that accuse allopathic medicine and doctors of causing deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani, who passed the order, expressed concern that allowing the defendants to continue promoting their product, Coronil, could put public health at risk and potentially damage the reputation of the ancient Ayurvedic system of medicine.
The court said that branding the tablet as “Coronil” suggests it cures COVID-19, which may amount to mislabeling or misbranding under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. However, the court left this aspect for examination by competent authorities.
The interim order comes in response to a lawsuit filed by various doctors’ associations challenging Ramdev’s claim that Coronil is a cure for COVID-19 rather than merely an immunity booster. The plaintiffs argue that Ramdev’s statements lack scientific evidence and are misleading, given that Coronil is only licensed as an “immuno-booster.”
The court has directed the defendants to remove their claims from social media platforms within three days. Failure to comply will result in social media intermediaries being required to take down the content.
In 2021, multiple doctors’ associations–including those from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh, Patna, and Bhubaneswar; the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research in Chandigarh; the Union of Resident Doctors of Punjab; Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Medical College in Meerut; and the Telangana Junior Doctors’ Association in Hyderabad–filed a lawsuit against Ramdev and others in the Delhi High Court.
The associations’ lawsuit asserts that Ramdev, being a highly influential figure, was undermining public trust in allopathic treatments and COVID-19 vaccines. They claimed that his actions constituted a misinformation campaign designed to promote his products, including Coronil, as alternative COVID-19 treatments.
(Inputs from ANI)
