Delhi High Court Issues Notice to Patanjali Over Dabur Chyawanprash Advertisement Dispute
The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to Patanjali Ayurved on a plea by Dabur India seeking to stop advertisements that disparage Dabur's Chyawanprash. The court questioned Patanjali's use of derogatory language and reserved its order on an interim relief. Dabur alleges that Patanjali's ads falsely label all other Chyawanprash brands as deceptive, harming its market-leading product.
The Delhi High Court, presided by Justice Tejas Karia, issued a notice to Patanjali Ayurved following a petition from Dabur India Limited seeking to restrain Patanjali from broadcasting advertisements that allegedly disparage Dabur's Chyawanprash product. Dabur claims the contested advertisement maliciously portrays Dabur's product and others as 'deceptive' or 'fraudulent' by using the term 'Dhoka' (meaning fraud), thus constituting generic disparagement and misleading consumers. The ads reportedly create fear among consumers by advising them to choose Patanjali's Chyawanprash over others. Dabur, holding over 61% of the chyawanprash market, argues this damages its brand and market position. Patanjali, represented by senior advocate Rajiv Nair, countered that the advertisements are puffery and permissible under law without specifically naming Dabur, asserting the advertisements highlight their product's superiority rather than denigrate competitors expressly. The court expressed concern about the negative and derogatory language used by Patanjali and has slated further hearings for February 2026. This legal controversy follows earlier interim directions issued by the Delhi High Court in 2025 restraining Patanjali from airing disparaging ads, with the court warning against frivolous appeals by Patanjali. The case reflects rising tensions in the competitive Ayurvedic Chyawanprash market and legal scrutiny over advertising claims and commercial disparagement.
