Dr Babu's years-long battle against misleading ads saw him file over 1,000 RTIs and complaints — a testament to his determination.
Thanks to Dr KV Babu's efforts, Supreme Court has reprimanded Patanjali Ayurved for its misleading advertising. (Supplied)
It was a relentless pursuit of truth using the Right to Information (RTI) Act by Dr KV Babu, an unassuming ophthalmologist from Kannur, Kerala, that led to the Supreme Court strongly reprimanding Patanjali Ayurved Ltd for its advertisements criticising modern medicines and vaccines.
The court, on Tuesday, 21 November, not only directed Patanjali to avoid any deceptive ads or unsubstantiated claims, it also warned that substantial fines would be levied for non-compliance.
Considering a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on the basis of complaints by Dr Babu against misleading advertisements, the Bench, comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Prashant Kumar Mishra, reprimanded the company co-founded by Baba Ramdev.
Baba Ramdev (Wikimedia Commons)
“All such false and misleading advertisements of Patanjali Ayurved have to stop immediately. The court will take any infraction very seriously and the court will also consider imposing costs to the extent of ₹1 crore on every product regarding which a false claim is made that it can ‘cure’ a particular disease,” Justice Amanullah orally said, according to LiveLaw.
Also, an undertaking by the company to not publish any such advertisements in future was recorded by the court in its order.
Meanwhile, the court also asked the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to come back with a proposal to tackle misleading medical advertisements. The matter will be considered next on 5 February 2024.
A dedicated health activist, Dr Babu launched a formidable campaign against misleading Ayurvedic medicine advertisements, notably those by Divya Pharmacy under Patanjali Ayurved Limited.
It all began in March 2018, when Dr Babu first noticed a questionable advertisement for an eye drop on Twitter (now X), claiming to cure a plethora of eye ailments, from glaucoma to night blindness.
This tweet from the official handle of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, one of India’s largest manufacturers of Ayurvedic medicine, horrified Dr Babu.
After encountering patients adversely affected by such products, Dr Babu recognised the harm these misleading advertisements could cause.
His battle was not just against the pharma giant Patanjali, but also against the broader issue of unethical advertising.
Dr Babu’s commitment has seen him file over 1,000 RTI requests and complaints — a testament to his determination. His first major move against Patanjali was in February 2022, when he filed a complaint with the Drugs Controller of India regarding an ad by Divya Pharmacy promoting anti-cholesterol medication.
Dr Babu’s activism, in fact, had begun in 2008 itself, three years after the RTI Act of 2005 was passed. He began to ask questions and filed many RTIs and communications. However, he would not get enough “useful replies” and took a break.
“I had stopped in between and restarted on 24 February 2022. Since then, I have filed 503 RTIs and complaints. Of these, 350 are pure RTIs and the rest are communications which include letters, emails, etc. My journey will continue,” Dr Babu tells South First.
Beyond targeting companies, Dr Babu has also held media houses accountable for publishing misleading ads, emphasising the shared responsibility in safeguarding public health.
He is also battling the National Medical Commission (NMC) over the non-disclosure of assets of members who, despite being at the helm for three years, are yet to post these on the official website, violating the NMC Act of 2019.
In the face of adversity, Dr Babu stands undeterred, his actions echoing far beyond Kerala’s borders. His journey underscores the vital role of vigilant individuals in holding corporations and authorities accountable.
Dr Babu’s approach is methodical and relentless, representing the quintessential spirit of a concerned citizen watchdog.
In an age where truth often loses against commercial interests, Dr Babu’s unwavering dedication remains a guiding light, demonstrating the significant impact one individual can have in shaping a more ethical and transparent society.
Taking to X, several people congratulated the IMA and Dr Babu for their relentless fight against Patanjali Ayurved over its misleading advertisements.
Dr Cyriac Abby Philips aka TheLiverDoc took to X to say, “The face of anti-science movement and master pseudoscience peddlers in India, the herbal supplement businessman Ramdev and his snake-oil salesman business associate Balkrishna’s Ayurvedic Pharma Company.”
The face of anti-science movement and master pseudoscience peddlers in India, the herbal supplement businessman Ramdev and his snake-oil salesman business associate BalKrishna’s Ayurvedic Pharma company Patanjali who has been flouting every rule in the book of medical ethics,… https://t.co/tl1HlMRYul
— TheLiverDoc (@theliverdr) November 21, 2023
“Patanjali who has been flouting every rule in the book of medical ethics, integrity, and morality, was strongly warned on serious actions by the Apex Court of India. This is a good move and this has largely possible because of the work from IMAIndiaOrg and Dr Babu. Kudos to them,” he posted.
However, he also said that a fine of ₹1 crore for every product featured in a misleading ad claiming “cure” won’t even scratch the surface of what “these fraudsters are making from selling Ayurvedic deception, all in the name of tradition and culture, but is still a strong and welcome move from Apex Court,” he posted.
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