The Supreme Court of India has officially closed the long-standing case filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) against Patanjali Ayurved concerning misleading advertisements that disparaged modern medicine. The case originated in 2022 due to Patanjali’s advertisements making unsubstantiated health claims and promoting their products as cures for chronic diseases while criticizing allopathy.

Over the course of the proceedings, the Court imposed bans on certain ads, initiated contempt proceedings against Patanjali’s founders Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna, and scrutinized regulatory lapses by state authorities. After multiple apologies and corrective actions by Patanjali, the contempt proceedings were dropped.

In a landmark decision on August 11, 2025, Justices BV Nagarathna and KV Viswanathan disposed of the IMA’s plea and lifted the stay on the central government’s deletion of Rule 170 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. This rule had required prior state-level approval for AYUSH advertisements. The Court held that it could not reinstate a provision legally removed by the government, thereby allowing AYUSH advertisements to run without prior state licensing.

The Court noted that the main relief sought by the IMA had been addressed through previous orders and regulatory changes. It emphasized that the regulatory framework was evolving to better address misleading medical advertisements while balancing rights to advertise and innovate.

This closure marks a turning point in the regulation of AYUSH medical advertising, shifting towards a more streamlined and centralized approach to governance in this sector, while underscoring the importance of truthful advertising practices and consumer protection.