Delhi High Court Slams Patanjali, Directs Removal Of Disparaging Ads Against Dabur's Chyawanprash
Delhi High Court Slams Patanjali, Directs Removal Of Disparaging Ads Against Dabur's Chyawanprash
Introduction
The Delhi High Court has passed an interim order directing Patanjali Ayurved to remove disparaging advertisements against consumer goods giant Dabur's Chyawanprash products. The court's decision comes in response to a suit filed by Dabur alleging that Patanjali's advertisements were misleading and disparaging.
Factual Background
The dispute arose after Patanjali ran an advertisement featuring its founder Swami Ramdev, in which he questioned the authenticity of other Chyawanprash products in the market. Dabur objected to the advertisement, arguing that it was disparaging and misleading.
Procedural Background
Dabur filed a suit against Patanjali Ayurved in the Delhi High Court, alleging that the company's advertisements were disparaging and misleading. The court heard arguments from both sides and passed an interim order directing Patanjali to remove the disparaging advertisements.
Issues Involved
1. Disparagement: Whether Patanjali's advertisements were disparaging and misleading.
2. Regulatory Compliance: Whether Patanjali's advertisements complied with regulatory standards governing Chyawanprash products.
Contentions of the Parties
Dabur's Contentions: Dabur argued that Patanjali's advertisements were misleading and disparaging, and undermined confidence in a category of products governed by strict regulatory standards. Dabur also flagged concerns that the ad insinuates health risks from consuming non-Patanjali products, thereby raising issues of public safety.
Patanjali's Contentions: Patanjali's contentions are not explicitly stated in the context, but the company's advertisements appear to be an attempt to promote its own Chyawanprash product as superior to others in the market.
Reasoning & Analysis
The bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna passed an interim order directing Patanjali to remove disparaging advertisements against Dabur's Chyawanprash products is a significant development in the ongoing dispute between the two companies. The court's decision reflects the importance of complying with regulatory standards and avoiding disparaging advertisements that can mislead consumers.
The dispute highlights the competitive nature of the Chyawanprash market, with companies vying for market share and consumer attention. Dabur, as a market leader with over 60% market share, has a significant interest in protecting its brand and reputation.
Patanjali's advertisements, featuring Swami Ramdev questioning the authenticity of other Chyawanprash products, appear to be an attempt to promote its own product as superior. However, the court's interim order suggests that such advertisements may be seen as disparaging and misleading.
Final Outcome
The Delhi High Court passed an interim order directing Patanjali Ayurved to remove disparaging advertisements against Dabur's Chyawanprash products. The court's decision is a significant victory for Dabur, which had alleged that Patanjali's advertisements were misleading and disparaging.
Implications
The court's interim order has significant implications for the Chyawanprash market, as it highlights the importance of complying with regulatory standards and avoiding disparaging advertisements. The decision is also likely to have a broader impact on the advertising practices of companies in the Ayurvedic and herbal products industry.
In this case Dabur was represented by Mr. Sandeep Sethi, Senior Advocate with advocates Mr. R Jawahar Lal, Mr. Anirudh Bakhru, and Ms. Meghna Kumar. Meanwhile Patanjali was represented by Mr. Rajiv Nayar and Mr. Jayant Mehta, Senior Advocates along with advocates Rohit Gandhi, Simranjeet Singh, Saurabh Seth, Neha Gupta, Rishabh Pant, Yajat Gulia, and Tina Aneja.
