Delhi high court asks Ramdev not to make 'provocative statements' as it issues summons

THE Delhi high court on Thursday (3) issued summons to yoga guru Ramdev on a suit by Delhi Medical Association (DMA).

The court also asked Ramdev's counsel orally to tell him not to make any provocative statement till the next date of hearing on July 13 and respond to the suit.

The DMA said in its petition that Ramdev's company Patanjali Ayurved is propagating false information about its Coronil kit that it is a cure for Covid-19.

On Tuesday (1), thousands of doctors across India wore black armbands calling for the arrest of Ramdev who has claimed yoga can prevent Covid-19 and that conventional medicine has killed thousands of coronavirus patients.

"This is a suit for civil rights of doctors," said advocate Rajiv Dutta, who represented the DMA.

Earlier this year, Patanjali Ayurved launched a herbal remedy called Coronil that Ramdev, who also has a TV channel, had said would cure coronavirus. The launch event was attended by the health minister.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) also took strong objection to the comments made by Ramdev last month. Citing a video circulating on social media, the IMA said Ramdev claimed that allopathy is a "stupid science".

The medical body shot off a letter to the Centre, asking strong action should be taken against the yoga guru for denigrating the tireless services rendered by doctors during the pandemic in which many medical practitioners have also succumbed.

Indian health minister Harsh Vardhan wrote a letter to Ramdev describing his comments as "unfortunate".

Later, Ramdev withdrew his comments and said he wants to put the matter to rest. However, the IMA has been putting pressure on the government to take action against him.

His firm is worth several hundred million dollars, selling everything from toothpaste to jeans at its ubiquitous stores.

The company -- India's 13th most trusted brand according to rankings published last year -- has previously claimed it had cancer remedies, while Ramdev has also said he can "cure" homosexuality and AIDS.