Unconditional apology tendered to apex court published widely: Indian Medical Association president to Supreme Court

The IMA's counsel told a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta that his unconditional apology has been published in the association's monthly publication, on the IMA's website, and also by PTI News.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court was on Tuesday informed that a public apology has been published in media houses by the Indian Medical Association President, Dr R V Asokan, for his remarks against the top court with regard to the Patanjali case hearing.

Senior advocate P S Patwalia, appearing for the IMA, submitted before a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta the apology has also been published on IMA's website and also its monthly journal on behalf of the Asokan.

On May 14, 2024, the Supreme Court had reproached Asokan for making an "attack" on the institution by his remarks in an ongoing contempt proceedings against Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev and Patanjali's MD Acharya Balkrishna in misleading advertisements case.

The bench had then declined to accept the unconditional apology tendered by him during his personal appearance before the court, saying he has to answer for his conduct. The court also asked him why he should not tender public apology as done by Ramdev.

In an application, Balkrishna through his counsel brought those press statements reportedly made by Asokan on record for taking a judicial notice and appropriate action against him.

In his statement, Asokan had reportedly said, "It does not behove the Supreme Court to take a broadside against the medical profession of the country which after all sacrificed so many lives for the Covid war."

The matter arose out a petition filed by the IMA in 2022 alleging a smear campaign by Patanjali and Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev against the Covid vaccination drive and modern systems of medicine.

During the course of the hearing on Tuesday, the court perused the affidavit filed on July 6 by Dr Asokan.

As the other side was yet to go through the affidavit of Asokan, the court fixed the matter for further hearing on August 6. It also exempted Asokan, who was present in the court, from personal appearance on the next date.