‘Your petition is all false’, IMA tells Ramdev during hearing in SC on his plea to stay FIRs; case adjourned

The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned to next week Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's plea seeking a stay on multiple FIRs registered against him in different states, as well as their clubbing and transfer to Delhi, over his alleged remarks that Allopathy cannot cure COVID.

A bench comprising Chief Justice NV Ramana, Justices AS Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy decided to adjourn the case to peruse the video and transcripts of the Baba Ramdev's statements on Allopathy cure for COVID, which they received yesterday night at 11 PM.

Last week, the Bench had asked Ramdev to produce before it the video and transcripts of his statements on Allopathy cure for COVID.

During the hearing today, the bench stated that yesterday night at 11PM they received a bulky volume of documents, CD, etc, Live Law has reported.

Senior Counsel Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Ramdev, requested that the court may hear the matter on Friday then.

Senior Advocate Rajiv Dutta, appearing for Delhi Medical Association (DMA), which has filed an impleadment application in the matter,

informed the court that they have created a chart with all statements made by Ramdev. As reported by National Herald on July 3, DMA has filed an impleadment application saying that Ramdev started a false propaganda on COVID treatment to promote Patanjali products.

"We are not doing anything. We're posting it next week." the Bench said.

Senior Advocate PS Patwalia, appearing for Indian Medical Association (IMA), one of the respondents, informed the court that they have also filed all extracts of Ramdev's statements in their application.

At this juncture, Rohatgi objected to the applications being filed, saying that, "They've no role filing all this."

"Don't say we have no role. What you're stating in your petition is all false," Dutta responded.

"Don't quarrel," the bench intervened.

As reported by National Herald on June 17, the FIRs against Ramdev were registered in Bihar and Chhattisgarh based on complaints by the respective state chapters of Indian Medical Association. The Patna and Raipur chapters of IMA lodged complaints against Ramdev alleging that his comments are likely to cause prejudice to COVID control, as the misinformation spread by him in a position of influence can dissuade people from availing proper treatment against the pandemic.

In the writ petition filed under Article 32, Ramdev has sought clubbing and the consolidation of FIRs and their transfer to Delhi. As an interim relief, he has also sought a stay on the investigation in the FIRs.

The FIRs mention offences under Sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of IPC and other provisions of Disaster Management Act 2005.