'Font Of IMA President's Apology Is Miniscule': Supreme Court Refuses To Accept Apology In Contempt Case
The Supreme Court on Tuesday again refused to accept the unconditional apology tendered by the Indian IMA president Asokan for his interview to the press in the misleading advertisement case against Ramdev and Patanajali MD.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday again refused to accept the unconditional apology tendered by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr RV Ashokan for his interview to the press in the misleading advertisement case against Yog Guru Baba Ramdev and Patanjali MD. The court had earlier accepted the unconditional apology tendered Ramdev and Patanjali MD for misleading advertisements and disparaging statements against modern medicine despite giving an undertaking in the top court.
Today, Senior Advocate PS Patwalia appearing for IMA President submitted a list of publications where his apology was published.
The bench after going through the submission said that the size of the publication was miniscule and illegible.
"The excerpt of the apology filed before us is illegible in as much as the font is miniscule. Counsel for IMA President is directed to file physical copies of 20 publications...where the publication of apology has been done. It has to be done in 1 week," the bench ordered.
Senior Advocate Patwalia told the court that there are other advertisements in the full page and so far as my interview of IMA president is concerned, it was not published physically.
Justice Hima Kohli at this point clarified that the court has never asked for full page apology and the bench will not hear the advocate at all until he shows the physical copy where they published the apology.
Senior Advocate Patwalia at this point contended that IMA President's interview never went beyond online, and only went through news agency PTI. Justice Kohli however warned him to not justify this.
IMA President's counsel further said, "he (IMA President) is ashamed of what has happened. He is apologetic for what has been committed."
At this point Justice Mehta said that he is not doing any obligation to the court. The bench retirated that they want the physical copy of apologies. "We have said that we can't read it."
The court made the above observations after the counsel for IMA president placed a tabulated list of unconditional apology tendered by him, which stated that the apology has been published in 20 publications.
On August 6, the top court had refused to accept an apology tendered by the IMA president and asked him to spend money from his own pockets in publishing apologies in newspapers and news portals and not IMA's money.
Earlier on May 14, the top court 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 grilled 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 the IMA president.
Justice Hima Kohli said, "Dr Asokan, with your experience, we would have expected more sense of responsibility from you!"
Dr Asokan said, "I unconditionally apologize."
The bench was not convinced 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!"
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