The Supreme Court on January 15, concluded contempt proceedings against Dr. R.V. Asokan, former president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), following his unconditional apology for remarks made against the Court in April 2024.
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan reviewed the affidavits and apology submitted by Dr. Asokan, deciding no further action was necessary. Senior Advocate P.S. Patwalia, representing Dr. Asokan, informed the Court that apologies had been issued publicly through newspapers, the IMA’s website, and its newsletter.
The contempt proceedings stemmed from a case filed by the IMA against Patanjali Ayurved, co-founder Baba Ramdev, and MD Acharya Balkrishna, over misleading advertisements targeting allopathic medicine. Despite earlier assurances from Patanjali to refrain from issuing such advertisements, the Court found continued violations, prompting contempt charges.
During hearings, the Court also addressed complaints of unethical practices by some IMA members. In April 2024, a bench led by Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah urged the IMA to address these issues and “put its house in order.” The National Medical Commission was brought in to assist in monitoring practices by allopathic doctors.
Controversy arose when Dr. Asokan criticized the Court’s observations on unethical practices in a media interview. On April 30, 2024, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Patanjali, flagged the remarks as undermining the Court’s dignity. Justice Amanullah described the matter as “serious,” cautioning the IMA to prepare for repercussions.
Acharya Balkrishna filed a petition accusing Dr. Asokan of making scandalous statements intended to diminish the Court’s authority. On May 7, 2024, the Court issued notice to Dr. Asokan, adding him as a co-respondent in the ongoing case.
Appearing before the Court on May 14, 2024, Dr. Asokan offered an unconditional apology. However, the bench criticized his delay in issuing a public apology and cautioned against commenting on sub-judice matters. The Court later directed Dr. Asokan to provide evidence of his published apologies, scrutinizing the size and distribution of the advertisements.
By August 27, 2024, the bench reviewed copies of apology ads published in various editions of newspaper. After examining these and Dr. Asokan’s affidavits, the Court, satisfied with his efforts, closed the contempt proceedings on January 15.
The Court also issued a warning to states and union territories, stating that failure to act against misleading medical advertisements and claims would result in further contempt proceedings.
