Supreme Court Asks Bihar & Chhattisgarh About Status Of Cases Against Baba Ramdev Over Remarks On Allopathy
The Supreme Court today (on April 19) heard Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev's plea to combine the several FIRs filed against him in different states over his alleged remarks that Allopathy cannot cure COVID. Observing that the petition was filed in the year 2021 and the charge-sheet would have been filed, the Court granted time to the State of Bihar and Chhattisgarh to inform it about the...
The Supreme Court today (on April 19) heard Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev's plea to combine the several FIRs filed against him in different states over his alleged remarks that Allopathy cannot cure COVID.
Observing that the petition was filed in the year 2021 and the charge-sheet would have been filed, the Court granted time to the State of Bihar and Chhattisgarh to inform it about the status regarding the FIRs and the chargesheet filed.
Meanwhile, the Court also asked Senior Advocate Sidharth Dave, who was appearing for Ramdev, to implead the complainants in the instant case. Thereafter, the Court posted the matter after vacations.
The matter was placed before Justices MM Sundresh and SVN Bhatti.
During the hearing, when counsel for the Indian Medical Association submitted that the complainants are not impleaded in the case, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, “They (IMA) are opposing Ayurveda, which I will be opposing seriously. They have no place here. Let it be between the complainant and the…We do not want strangers to come here.”
However, Justice Sundresh told the Union officer that the IMA just wanted to know the position. They just want to know the position, that is all., he said.
When the counsel clarified that the petitioner(Ramdev) only impleaded the IMA, the SG, in a lighter vein asked Dave “Please delete it.”
The FIRs against Baba Ramdev were registered in the States of Bihar and Chhattisgarh based on complaints by the Indian Medical Association. Apart from this, the Patna and Raipur chapters of IMA lodged complaints against Ramdev alleging that his comments are likely to cause prejudice to COVID control, as the misinformation spread by him in a position of influence can dissuade people from availing proper treatment against the pandemic.
Additionally, it may also be noted that the top court in this petition had also asked Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev to produce the video and transcripts of his statements on the Allopathy cure for COVID.
In the writ petition filed under Article 32, Ramdev has sought clubbing and the consolidation of FIRs and their transfer to Delhi. As an interim relief, he has also sought a stay on the investigation in the FIRs.
The FIRs mention offences under Sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), and other provisions of Disaster Management Act 2005.
Ramdev is also facing contempt proceedings initiated by the Supreme Court for publishing misleading medical advertisements in breach of an undertaking given by Patanjali Ayurved to the Supreme Court.
Case Title: Swami Ram Dev v. Union Of India., W.P.(Crl.) No. 265/2021