The bench expressed disappointment with the affidavits submitted by district officers from Haridwar, including Ayurveda and Unani officers. The Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority was allowed to file additional affidavits.
The Centre defended its decision to issue a letter directing State/UT licensing authorities not to take action against misleading advertisements related to Ayurvedic and Ayush products under Rule 170 of the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945.
The court noted that the authority only took action after the Supreme Court's order on April 10, emphasizing that it seemed to have remained inactive deliberately.
The court directed Patanjali Ayurved's counsel, including Yog Guru Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna, to submit original newspaper pages containing the public apology issued by the company. While the company provided e-copies, the court insisted on original records.
The case was filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) against an alleged smear campaign conducted by Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd and its founders against the Covid-19 vaccination drive and modern medicine.
The next hearing is scheduled for May 14.