'Not Heartfelt, Too Late': SC Rejects IMA President's 'Unconditional Apology' For Interview In Ramdev's Case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to accept the "unconditional apology" offered by the President of Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dr RV Ashokan

Supreme Court said that the apology by IMA President did not appear heartfelt.

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to accept the "unconditional apology" offered by the President of Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dr RV Ashokan for giving an interview against observations made by the top court in the misleading advertisement case filed against Baba Ramdev and Patanjali Ayurveda.

 The top court said that the apology by IMA President did not appear heartfelt.

The bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah refused to accept the apology by Dr RV Ashokan after grilling him over statements made in the interview on the top court's observations.

"You were the one to drag the other side (Ramdev) to court over an interview on a matter that is subjudice. And now you go and make such statements!" the bench said to IMA president.

Justice Hima Kohli said, "Dr Asokan, with your experience, we would have expected more sense of responsibility from you!"

Justice  Amanullahasked IMA president that what made him suddenly do that interview. "How could you do that?"

Dr Asokan said, "I unconditionally apologize."

The bench was not convinved and Justice Amanullah said it was very unfortunate. "You have done exactly what they did. After an order of this court, you comment on it!"

"We have the same to say for your apology, as we did for Patanjali, it is not heartfelt. It's a sub judice matter in which you were party. Your counsel could have asked for expunging remarks. But you went to press. We are not at all happy." Justice Kohli said.

Justice Amanullah Asked IMA president as to why he did not give a public apology?

"It was picked up by other channels. What did you do to redeem yourself?" Justice Kohli said.  

Earlier, the Patanjali MD Acharaya Balakrishna moved the apex court against the interview given by the President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) after Supreme Court pulled up IMA and observed that it also needs to put its house in order.

The Patanjali MD had filed an affidavit in the top court bringing the IMA President's interview on record and prayed that the court take "judicial notice of the statements made by the President, Indian Medical Association and initiate appropriate actions in accordance with law".

The apex court took a strong exception to the interview given by the IMA President, Dr RV Ashokan. The court had asked IMA to explain why they were making statements in a matter that was sub-judice.

Counsel appearing for IMA had earlier told the court that Dr Ashokan was mostly praising the, the court's order. The bench at that time was quick to reply that the court does not need a pat on its back.

Earlier, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Patanjali had brought IMA Presdent's interview to the court's notice and alleged that the IMA President criticised the Supreme Court's observations regarding the need for IMA to take action on complaints of unethical practices by allopathic doctors.

The top court had observed while hearing the IMA's petition against misleading advertisements by Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurveda in an earlier hearing, that there are several complaints with regard to alleged unethical conduct of IMA.

The bench had also directed that National Medical Commission be impleaded and made party for assistance to the court in the case.

Speaking on IMA, the bench had said that it wishes to clarifying that it is not here to gun for a particular agency. "This is a PIL. It is in interest of public. This is part of process of rule of law." The court noted that the case of misleading advertisements was not restricted to just Patanjali Ayurveda but several other FMCGs were guilty of this.