FMCG giant company Dabur India (Dabur India), Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurveda (Patanjali Ayurved) has reached Delhi High Court. Dabur has alleged that Patanjali Ayurved has run a derogatory advertisement targeting its Chyawanprash brand. According to a report by legal news website Bar & Bench, Delhi High Court Judge Mini Pushkarna has issued a notice in the case. Also, it has been listed for hearing in the last week of January to consider interim orders.
The report said that Dabur India has sought immediate restraining orders against Patanjali Ayurveda. The judge had initially suggested mediation to resolve the issue, but decided to hear the case after Dabur sought immediate relief.
What is this in Patanjali’s ad?
Dabur India representative Akhil Sibal said Patanjali’s advertisement misleads consumers, and shows that other brands lack the knowledge or authenticity of preparing Chyawanprash. Citing the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, Sibal said there are pre-determined parameters for formulating Chyawanprash, and any allegation of it being an ‘ordinary’ product is harmful for competitors like Dabur. Dabur has more than 61% market share in the Chyawanprash category.
In the advertisement of Patanjali Ayurveda, founder Swami Ramdev says, “Those who do not have knowledge of Ayurveda and Vedas, how will they be able to make real Chyawanprash in the tradition of Charak, Sushruta, Dhanvantari and Chyawanrishi?” This ad is running on various TV channels and has also been published in the Delhi edition of a newspaper.
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Senior lawyer Akhil Sibal, citing Supreme Court orders on the contempt petition against Patanjali earlier this year, also said that Patanjali Ayurveda is a habitual offender. Senior advocate Jayant Mehta, appearing for Patanjali Ayurveda, sought time to file the reply and also questioned the maintainability of the case.