In New Delhi, Indian Medical Association (IMA) president R V Asokan told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that he had unconditionally apologized to the apex court for his "prejudicial" remarks in an interview with , where he had answered questions about the case of misleading advertisements of Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. has been published in various publications.
The IMA's lawyer told Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta that his unconditional apology has been published in the association's monthly publication, on the IMA website, as well as by.
"Last time, I (Asokan) had filed an affidavit of apology. Their Lordships were of the view that the apology should be given adequate publicity, as should the interview..." senior advocate P. S. Patwalia, representing to the IMA. .
He said that the IMA has a monthly publication, and on the front page of it, a full-page advertisement says that Asokan apologized, expressed his regret before the high court and submitted the affidavit of him offering unconditional apology.
Patwalia said that if the IMA website is opened, the apology immediately appears as a pop-up window.
"Thirdly, I have sent the apology to the news. I have published it," he said, adding that the same has been shared with other media outlets as well.
"Where is your post?" Justice Kohli asked Patwalia, who then referred to the news published by .
"The deponent (Asokan) has also conveyed his unconditional apology and regret expressed to this court in the deponent's sworn statement to the same news agency to which the deponent had granted the interview on April 29," he said, adding that the unconditional apology was reported in several news publications.
The court asked senior advocate Balbir Singh, appearing for Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, whether they had seen the additional affidavit filed by Asokan.
"Balbir Singh, senior advocate representing the respondents, submits that the respondents may be permitted to read the affidavit and assist the court on the next date of hearing," the court noted in its order and posted the matter for hearing additional on August 6. .
The court told Singh: "If you want to file a reply, that's fine. You don't need to file a reply. It's really between the court and the party, but you can help the court in whatever way you want."
Patwalia told the court that Asokan was personally present in the court and he could be exempted from appearing in person.
"He is excused for the time being from appearing," the court said, while granting the request.
During the May 14 hearing, the court posed a difficult question to Asokan about his "prejudicial" statements against the court in an interview, saying: "You cannot sit on a couch giving an interview to the press and satirizing the court."
The court then made it clear that it will not accept the affidavit of him offering apology at that time.
Expressing displeasure over Asokan's comments a day before the high court was appointed to hear the matter, he sought its response on a petition filed by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, which had urged the court to take judicial notice of the statements made by him. .
In an interaction with editors on April 29 for his show '@4 Parliament Street', the IMA president had said that it was "unfortunate" that the Supreme Court was criticizing the association and also some of the practices of private doctors .
Asokan was responding to a question on the Supreme Court's observations during a hearing on April 23, when he said that while he was pointing one finger at Patanjali, the remaining four fingers were pointing towards IMA.
The top court is hearing a plea filed in 2022 by the IMA alleging a defamation campaign by Patanjali against the Covid vaccination drive and modern systems of medicine.
The IMA's lawyer told Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta that his unconditional apology has been published in the association's monthly publication, on the IMA website, as well as by.
"Last time, I (Asokan) had filed an affidavit of apology. Their Lordships were of the view that the apology should be given adequate publicity, as should the interview..." senior advocate P. S. Patwalia, representing to the IMA. .
He said that the IMA has a monthly publication, and on the front page of it, a full-page advertisement says that Asokan apologized, expressed his regret before the high court and submitted the affidavit of him offering unconditional apology.
Patwalia said that if the IMA website is opened, the apology immediately appears as a pop-up window.
"Thirdly, I have sent the apology to the news. I have published it," he said, adding that the same has been shared with other media outlets as well.
"Where is your post?" Justice Kohli asked Patwalia, who then referred to the news published by .
"The deponent (Asokan) has also conveyed his unconditional apology and regret expressed to this court in the deponent's sworn statement to the same news agency to which the deponent had granted the interview on April 29," he said, adding that the unconditional apology was reported in several news publications.
The court asked senior advocate Balbir Singh, appearing for Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, whether they had seen the additional affidavit filed by Asokan.
"Balbir Singh, senior advocate representing the respondents, submits that the respondents may be permitted to read the affidavit and assist the court on the next date of hearing," the court noted in its order and posted the matter for hearing additional on August 6. .
The court told Singh: "If you want to file a reply, that's fine. You don't need to file a reply. It's really between the court and the party, but you can help the court in whatever way you want."
Patwalia told the court that Asokan was personally present in the court and he could be exempted from appearing in person.
"He is excused for the time being from appearing," the court said, while granting the request.
During the May 14 hearing, the court posed a difficult question to Asokan about his "prejudicial" statements against the court in an interview, saying: "You cannot sit on a couch giving an interview to the press and satirizing the court."
The court then made it clear that it will not accept the affidavit of him offering apology at that time.
Expressing displeasure over Asokan's comments a day before the high court was appointed to hear the matter, he sought its response on a petition filed by Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, which had urged the court to take judicial notice of the statements made by him. .
In an interaction with editors on April 29 for his show '@4 Parliament Street', the IMA president had said that it was "unfortunate" that the Supreme Court was criticizing the association and also some of the practices of private doctors .
Asokan was responding to a question on the Supreme Court's observations during a hearing on April 23, when he said that while he was pointing one finger at Patanjali, the remaining four fingers were pointing towards IMA.
The top court is hearing a plea filed in 2022 by the IMA alleging a defamation campaign by Patanjali against the Covid vaccination drive and modern systems of medicine.
