The Delhi High Court on Thursday passed an interim order directing the Ramdev-led Patanjali Ayurved to remove disparaging advertisements against Dabur's Chyawanprash products. The case is now scheduled for further hearing on July 14.
According to PTI reports, Justice Mini Pushkarna allowed the interim injunction on Dabur's plea. Dabur alleged "Patanjali Special Chyawanprash" was "disparaging DABUR Chyawanprash specifically" and Chyawanprash in general, by claiming that "no other manufacturer has the knowledge to prepare Chyawanprash".
This comes after Patanjali ran an advertisement in which its founder is seen questioning the authenticity of other Chyawanprash products in the market. Ramdev in the advertisement says, “Jinko Ayurved aur Vedo ka gyaan nahi, Charak, Sushrut, Dhanwantari aur Chyawanrishi ke parampara mei ‘original’ Chyawanprash kaise bana payenge?”
Live Law reports, Dabur alleged that despite the summons, Patanjali went on to air 6,182 advertisements targeting its product within a single week. Dabur also objected to specific references in Patanjali's advertisements calling a 40-herb Chyawanprash “ordinary.” Dabur stated during the hearing, “They refer to us as ordinary. They make a market leader ordinary.”
This is a direct reference to Dabur’s product, which advertises itself as using “40+ herbs,” and holds over 60% of the Chyawanprash market according to Bar and Bench. Dabur argued that such statements constitute threefold disparagement — misrepresenting Patanjali's formulation, questioning Dabur’s adherence to Ayurvedic tradition and branding Dabur's product as inferior.
Dabur, represented by Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, also alleged that Patanjali’s product contained mercury, making it unsafe for children. They also flagged concerns that the advertisement insinuates health risks from consuming non-Patanjali products, thereby raising issues of public safety, reported Bar and Bench.
Sethi pointed to earlier Supreme Court orders in contempt proceedings against Patanjali for similar advertising conduct, arguing that the company is a habitual offender.
Patanjali has notably been involved in several legal battles regarding its advertising. NDTV reports, last year, the Supreme Court had taken Ramdev to task over disparaging statements against allopathy. It was only after multiple apologies and several personal appearances in the top court that the contempt of court case filed against Ramdev and Patanjali was closed.
