Ramdev Seeks Supreme Court Direction to Club FIRs Over Remarks on Modern Medicine

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking to club two FIRs filed against him by the Bihar and Chhattisgarh units of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) over his alleged derogatory remarks about modern medicine during the 2021 COVID-19 pandemic. The Patna and Raipur chapters of the IMA lodged complaints alleging that Ramdev's remarks were likely to cause prejudice to COVID control mechanisms and may dissuade people from availing proper treatment.

The Supreme Court has granted time to the states of Bihar and Chhattisgarh to inform it about the status of the FIRs and the charge sheets filed. The court has also asked Ramdev's counsel to implead the complainants in the case and posted the matter for hearing after the summer vacations. Ramdev has impleaded the Centre, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and IMA as parties in his plea.

The Delhi Medical Association has sought permission to become a party to the case, alleging that Ramdev insulted allopathy and 'instigated' people to disregard vaccines and treatment protocols. The IMA has opposed Ramdev's plea for clubbing the cases, accusing him of showing 'complete disdain for the rule of law' and engaging in 'unlawful, unethical and irresponsible conduct' during the pandemic by misleading people and creating vaccine hesitancy.

Ramdev has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Disaster Management Act, 2005 for his alleged remarks that 'allopathy is a stupid science' and that medicines like Remdesivir and Fabiflu have failed to treat COVID-19 patients. The IMA had sent a legal notice to Ramdev over his remarks, which caused massive outrage.

Why this matters: The case highlights the ongoing tensions between traditional and modern medicine in India, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ramdev's remarks sparked controversy and drew strong reactions from the medical community, which accused him of spreading misinformation and undermining public trust in science-based treatments.

Ramdev is also facing contempt proceedings initiated by the Supreme Court for publishing misleading medical advertisements in breach of an undertaking given by Patanjali Ayurved to the court. The Supreme Court has directed the state governments of Bihar and Chhattisgarh to update it on the status of the FIRs and charge-sheets filed against Ramdev. The court will hear the matter in July after Ramdev impleads the complainants as parties in his plea seeking a stay on the criminal proceedings.

Key Takeaways

• Yoga guru Baba Ramdev filed plea to club FIRs over remarks against modern medicine.
• SC granted time to Bihar, Chhattisgarh to inform status of FIRs and charge sheets.
• Delhi Medical Association sought to be party, alleging Ramdev insulted allopathy and created vaccine hesitancy.
• Ramdev faces contempt proceedings for misleading medical ads, SC seeks status of cases.
• Case highlights tensions between traditional and modern medicine in India during COVID-19.