The Supreme Court on Tuesday grilled the Central government on why it asked AYUSH authorities in states and union territories not to take any action against misleading advertisements under Rule 170 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 [Indian Medical Association & Anr v. Union of India and Ors].The Court was hearing a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) against an alleged smear campaign carried out by Patanjali Ayurved and its founders Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna against the COVID-19 vaccination drive and modern medicine.During the hearing, the Court's attention was drawn to a letter by the Central government issued in 2023, which effectively put on hold the implementation of Rule 170.Rule 170 was added to the 1945 Rules in 2018. It prohibited the advertisement of Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani drugs without approval by the licensing authority in the State or Union Territory where the drug was manufactured. The aim of the rule was to tackle misleading advertisements.A Bench of Justices Hima Kohi and Ahsanuddin Amanullah was told today that the said Rule was challenged in several High Courts. The Delhi High Court eventually asked the Central government to re-examine the Rule after getting expert advice.Since the Rule was yet to be reconsidered, the Central government had called for States to refrain from invoking it against misleading advertisements, the Court was told today.The Bench, however, was not convinced by this explanation."Union of India then got benefit of recommendations (on Rule 170). Without taking a decision (on reconsidering Rule 170 of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules), why are saying don't take action under Rule 170? High Court had directed you to take a decision. As of now, the law is still there. Why without taking decision, you said don't take steps under Rule 170?" Justice Amanullah asked."Until then (a decision is taken), it is good law. It applies!" Justice Kohli added."Let us be clear, you (Central government) have all the power, you can reconsider the rule, you have done that. But it is glaring! The rule (Rule 170) was not withdrawn. Can you justify that a law existing today was not implemented? Is it permissible under the Constitution of India?" Justice Amanullah went on to observe."By an administrative act, can you keep that regulation on hold?" Justice Kohli further queried.Representing the Central government, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) KM Nataraj assured the Court that a final decision on Rule 170 would be taken at the earliest.The Court proceeded to discuss the complaint redressal mechanism in place to tackle misleading ads in general. It took note that once a complaint is received by the Centre, it simply forwards the same to the state authorities to take action.In this context, the Court questioned whether the present law effectively addresses consumer complaints against misleading ads."Complaints are only forwarded to the concerned States. We don't know what happened to those complaints? Even if there is lot of regulatory mechanisms, and there is no cohesion, consumer would never know what happened to the complaint. You are forwarding, that is the end of your mandate...Won't it be necessary to show if complaint was acted on? Otherwise consumer would only get fed up," Justice Kohli observed.Justice Amanullah added that the impression the Court was getting was that the mechanism in place was not effective."The Court's focus is the public. Whoever tries to come in way of public interest is going to face our onslaught," he further observed.The Court also briefly questioned if the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) had sufficient teeth when it comes to acting against misleading or objectionable advertisements."If ASCI is the only recommendatory body, what is the value of their recommendations if you don't given them power?" the Court asked.The Court further questioned what exactly the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has done to that ensure advertisements are in accordance with law. After being apprised of the CCPA's past actions, the Court said,"For an entire country, if they are supposed to take suo motu action, is it not a paltry number?...Awareness notifications are all very well for those in legal community, but for an ordinary consumer?"The Court added that it wished to hear more submissions on these larger issues concerning consumer rights before rising for the lunch break.The case before the Court was initially focused on misleading ads by Patanjali Ayurved and whether to initiate contempt proceedings against Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna (promoters of Patanjali).However, the scope of the case was eventually expanded to cover larger issues. The Court indicated that it wished to examine objectionable ads by other suppliers of consumer goods as well as unethical practices reported in the practice of modern medicine.Later, the Court took strong exception to comments made by IMA president Dr. RV Asokan during an interview, where he allegedly criticised the Court for "pointing fingers" at the association during an earlier hearing of the case.Referring to these comments today, the Court remarked,"You (IMA) say other side (Patanjali Ayurved) is misleading, running your medicine down - but what were you doing?! ... Let us make it clear, this court is not expecting any pats on the back. This court has also received its share of brickbats. We also have broad shoulders but..!"Representing the IMA, Senior Advocate PS Patwalia has urged the Court to grant him time till the next date of hearing on May 14 to make further submissions.Meanwhile, Senior Advocates Vipin Sanghi and Balbir Singh appeared for Patanjali and Baba Ramdev today and informed the Court that they have filed original newspaper pages which contained the unconditional apologies by Patanjali Ayurved for broadcasting misleading ads in violation of the Court's earlier orders.Senior Advocate Rohatgi also represented Patanjali and informed that an application has been filed in the matter concerning the IMA President's "wanton" comments against the Supreme Court.
TAGS: Supreme Court Central government Rule 170 Indian Medical Association misleading advertisements Patanjali Ayurved Baba Ramdev Acharya Balkrishna consumer complaints
