Supreme Court demands Patanjali to prove compliance with product ban

The Supreme Court of India on July 9 ordered Patanjali Ayurved to provide evidence that it has stopped selling and advertising 14 banned products, as mandated by the Uttarakhand state licensing department in April.

The court aims to verify Patanjali’s claim that it has directed all store owners, advertising outlets, and social media platforms to follow the ban.

During visits on July 9 and 10 to Patanjali stores in New Delhi, Lucknow, Patna, and Dehradun, reporters were able to buy most of these banned products, obtaining receipts for each purchase.

In some shops, not all 14 products were available due to stock shortages, but store personnel assured that these could be restocked within a week. Each of the banned products was found in at least one store.

Despite a later affidavit from the Uttarakhand government indicating that the April 15 ban had been revoked on procedural grounds, the Supreme Court, led by Justice Hima Kohli, demanded Patanjali confirm adherence to the ban.

The court instructed Patanjali to submit an affidavit within two weeks detailing whether the 14 Ayurvedic products had been withdrawn from sale. This case will be reviewed again on July 30.

Patanjali’s lawyer, Gautam Talukdar, stated that the company had not yet received any official communication about the ban's revocation and remains bound by the Supreme Court’s orders.

The banned products include Swasari Gold, Swasari Vati, Bronchom, Swasari Pravahi, Swasari Avaleh, Mukta Vati Extra Power, Lipidom, BP Grit, Madhugrit, Madhunashini Vati Extra Power, Livamrit Advance, Livogrit, Eyegrit Gold, and Patanjali Drishti Eye Drop.

In New Delhi’s New Friends Colony, a Patanjali store had seven of the banned products in stock, with the shopkeeper unaware of the license cancellations. At another store in East of Kailash, nine of the banned products were available, with the shopkeeper also unaware of the ban.

In Patna, at the Lok Nayak Bhawan near the Dak Bungalow roundabout, a store managed by Ashish Keshri reported no instructions from Patanjali to halt the sale of any products. The reporter was able to purchase 13 of the 14 banned products for ₹3,215.

In Lucknow’s Hazratganj, a store had all 14 banned products available for a total of ₹3,370. The shopkeeper mentioned that these medicines were available in bulk quantities.

In Dehradun, two Patanjali stores were visited. At Dev Enterprises on Raipur road, 13 of the 14 banned products were available.

The shopkeeper initially hesitated to issue a bill but eventually provided one after consulting with a supplier, claiming the ban was a misunderstanding.

Another store at the New Chauhan Arogya Kendra near the IT Park on Sahastradhara Road also had the banned products in stock, with the shopkeeper dismissing the ban as a rumor.

Attempts to reach Patanjali spokesperson SK Tijariwala for comments were unsuccessful as he declined to comment, stating that the case was still under judicial consideration.