NEW DELHI: The Indian Medical Association on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that a public apology has been published in media houses by its President Dr R V Asokan for his remarks against the top court in the Patanjali case hearing.
Senior advocate P S Patwalia, appearing for the IMA, submitted before a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta the apology has also been published on IMA's website and also its monthly journal on behalf of the Asokan.
On May 14, 2024, the Supreme Court had severely reprimanded Asokan for making an "attack" on the institution by his remarks in an ongoing contempt proceedings against Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev and Patanjali's MD Acharya Balkrishna in misleading advertisements case.
The bench had then declined to accept the unconditional apology tendered by him during his personal appearance before the court, saying he has to answer for his conduct.
The court had also asked him why he should not tender public apology as done by Ramdev.
Asokan remarks published in a number of newspapers was brought on record through an application filed by Acharya Balkrishna.
His counsel asked the court to take judicial notice of those press statements reportedly made by Asokan for taking appropriate action against him.
In his statement, Asokan had reportedly said, "It does not behove the Supreme Court to take a broadside against the medical profession of the country which after all sacrificed so many lives for the Covid war."
The matter related to a petition filed by the IMA in 2022 alleging a smear campaign by Patanjali and Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev against the Covid vaccination drive and modern systems of medicine.
During the course of the hearing on Tuesday, the court went through the affidavit filed by Dr Asokan on July 6.
The court fixed the matter for further hearing on August 6, to let the respondents go through the affidavit. It also exempted Asokan, who was present in the court, from personal appearance on the next date of hearing.
