Indian Medical Association (IMA) president RV Asokan informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday that his unconditional apology regarding his controversial statements has been widely publicized.
His counsel, P S Patwalia, stated before a bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta that the apology has been prominently featured in IMA’s monthly publication, on their website, and disseminated through news agencies like PTI.
Patwalia highlighted that the IMA’s monthly publication includes a full-page advertisement on its first page, emphasizing Asokan’s apology and regret expressed to the apex court. Additionally, visitors to the IMA’s website are greeted with a pop-up displaying the apology. The counsel also noted that the apology has been shared with PTI and various other media outlets, ensuring broad visibility.
During the hearing, the bench inquired if Patanjali Ayurved Ltd’s legal team had reviewed Asokan’s additional affidavit. Senior advocate Balbir Singh, representing Patanjali, acknowledged the affidavit and sought time to assist the court, prompting the bench to schedule the next hearing for August 6.
The bench granted Asokan exemption from personal appearance and addressed the contentious issue raised during the May 14 hearing, where the court had critiqued Asokan’s statements made in an interview. At that time, the court had emphasized that an apology affidavit would not suffice without proper publicity.
The ongoing case involves a plea by the IMA alleging that Patanjali conducted a smear campaign against the Covid vaccination drive and modern medicine.
