In a significant legal development, the Delhi High Court has instructed yoga guru Ramdev to retract his controversial statements claiming that his product ‘Coronil’ is a cure for COVID-19. The court also directed Ramdev to address his remarks questioning the efficacy of allopathic medicine in treating the virus, giving him a deadline of three days to comply.
Justice Anup Bhambhani, who reserved the order on May 21 after hearing arguments from both sides, emphasized the seriousness of the issue. The lawsuit against Ramdev, his aide Acharya Balkrishna, and Patanjali Ayurveda was filed by doctors’ associations in 2021. The plaintiffs alleged that Ramdev made “unsubstantiated claims” about ‘Coronil’, promoting it as a cure for COVID-19 despite its approved status as merely an “immuno-booster.”
According to the lawsuit, Ramdev’s statements were part of a larger misinformation campaign aimed at boosting sales of ‘Coronil’ and undermining trust in conventional medicine and COVID-19 vaccines. The petitioners argued that Ramdev’s influence was being used to sow doubts about the safety and efficacy of allopathic treatments and vaccines, potentially endangering public health.
The high court initially issued summons to Ramdev and others on October 27, 2021, deeming the case to be substantial and not frivolous. The court’s order reflects a growing concern over the impact of misleading claims during the pandemic, particularly from high-profile figures like Ramdev.
In addition to the legal action, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration in Uttar Pradesh had also taken action against Ramdev’s products. On July 12, 2023, the administration banned the sale of 14 Ayurvedic medicines manufactured by Divya Pharmacy and Patanjali Ayurveda Limited, citing regulatory issues.
The court’s decision is expected to have significant implications for how health claims are regulated and communicated to the public, especially in the context of ongoing global health challenges. Ramdev’s response to the court’s order will be closely watched as it may set a precedent for addressing similar issues in the future.