New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to accept the affidavits of yoga guru Ramdev and his close aide Balkrishna of Patanjali Ayurved tendering unconditional apologies for publishing “misleading” advertisements, asserting the court does not want to be “so generous”, as they were issued after the duo was caught with their “back against the wall”.
The apex court also came down hard on the Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority for its inaction on the issue and said it is not going to take it lightly, as the authority appeared to have kept its “eyes shut deliberately”.
“We will rip you apart,” the court said.
The bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah observed that after the notices to show cause were issued to Ramdev and Balkrishna, they “attempted to wriggle out” of their personal appearance before the court which is “most unacceptable”.
“Having regard to the entire history of the matter and the past conduct of the contemnors…, we have expressed our reservations about accepting the latest affidavit filed by them,” the bench said while dictating the order in the courtroom.
The court fixed the matter for resumed hearing on April 16.
Reproaching the authority, the top court said it was “appalled to note that except for pushing the files”, the competent authority within the office of State Licensing Authority did nothing and was in “deep slumber” over the issue for four-five years.
The bench, which interacted with the joint director of the authority during the hearing, said he should have acted in accordance with law. It said his predecessor will file an affidavit explaining the inaction on his part during his tenure.
The bench also directed that the district Ayurvedic and Unani officers, Haridwar, who were posted there from 2018 till date, shall also file affidavits explaining the inaction on their part.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Ramdev and Balkrishna, referred to the affidavits filed by them tendering unconditional and unqualified apology.
“The apologies that are on record are on paper. We think that having been caught on the wrong foot and noticing that their back is actually against the wall and having gone to town saying all kind of things on the very next day of the order passed where your counsel had given undertaking, we don’t accept this affidavit,” the bench said.
“We decline to accept or condone it. We consider it a wilful and deliberate violation of the order and the breach of the undertaking… We decline to accept this affidavit,” it said.
When Rohatgi said people do make mistakes, the bench retorted, telling him then they suffer the consequences. “We don’t want to be so generous in this case,” the top court said.
The bench observed it is not convinced with the affidavits filed by Ramdev and Balkrishna.
“We are wondering why should we not treat your apologies with the same disdain that you showed to your undertaking and the orders of this court,” Justice Kohli said.
The bench, which perused the affidavits filed by the state licensing authority, said it wanted to ask the authority several questions. It said the Centre had clearly told the state authority in 2020 to stop objectionable advertisements.
The bench asked why should the officer of the licensing authority and district Ayurvedic and Unani officer be not suspended for their inaction.