Yoga practitioner Ramdev and Patanjali MD Balkrishna appeared in the Supreme Court on Tuesday to tender an “unconditional apology” for disparaging other forms of medicine like allopathy to promote ayurveda.

The duo also offered to tend a “public apology to show contrition” in the contempt proceedings in the misleading advertisements case against Patanjali.

A bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah listed the matter for further hearing to April 23 to enable the two contemnors to convey how they intended to “redeem” themselves and show their “good intentions” to never repeat such mistakes.

The court conceded the plea for adjournment after senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi, Balbir Singh and others — appearing for Patanjali and the duo — sought time to place on record their sincere and unconditional apologies along with some “unilateral” measures to demonstrate their sincerity.

The court was dealing with a contempt petition filed by the Indian Medical Association against Patanjali for putting out misleading ads in the media after assuring the top court in November to desist from indulging in such practices.

Responding to queries from the bench, Ramdev said they had no intention to defy the court’s directive and everything had happened during moments of “excitement” over promoting Ayurveda.

“I assure that from now on I will be 100 per cent alert and desist from such behaviour. I am also not happy with what has happened. It (media conference) happened in a moment of excitement. We will not do it in future,” Ramdev told the bench headed by Justice Kohli.

“You are not so innocent that you did not know what we said in our order,” the bench said, adding: “We are not saying at this stage that we are letting them off the hook.”

This means the court will consider their apology based on further assurances at the next date of hearing.

Justice Kohli said the court was conscious of the fact that Ramdev had widely promoted yoga and ayurveda in the country, but the duo could not discredit other forms of medicines such as allopathy, homoeopathy or unani.

Later, the court passed the following order: “Mr Mukul Rohatgi, learned senior counsel appearing for the proposed Contemnors No. 5 to 7, submits that to redeem themselves and demonstrate their bona fides, they propose to take some steps unilaterally.

“He requests one week’s time to revert back on the aforesaid aspect. This Court has interacted with the proposed Contemnors No. 6 and 7 for some time and have heard their submissions. Both of them have tendered their unqualified apology for having called a press conference immediately after an order was passed by this Court on 21st November, 2023 and for continuing to issue misleading advertisements and making derogatory statements in respect of other systems of treatment....”