Johnrose Austin Jayalal – IMA President, Doctor, member of IMA, Christian or citizen of India – how he reacted to get into a case and exposed!
Initially, it started as Baba Ramdev vs IMA (Indian Medical Association): Baba Ramdev reportedly commented that the allopathic medicine was not so curative to the Corona conditions and he would rather prescribe Ayurvedic medicine. So the doctors under the banner IMA started attacking him with condemnations, demonstrations, legal notice demanding Rs 1000 croes and even filed many cases from many places in India. At one stage, even the PM asked him to apologize and he did. Yet, the IMA has not been relentless and continued to attack him. Hitherto, none knew of the person of the name and style, “Johnrose Austin Jayalal,” a doctor, president and harbinger of the protests initiated against Baba Ramdev. So, Baba has decided to face the legal battle and requested that all petitions may be tagged to together, so that he could face at the Supreme Court. Under such circumstances only, the background of Dr Johnrose Austin Jayalal started revealing. Yes, he was also acting as a Christian, of course, that is not an issue, but as an evangelist responding to specific querries about saving souls, harvesting during the pandemic conditions etc., as the God has shown the wonderful way for their evangelization activities to carry on.
March 2021 – Johnrose Austin Jaylal reacted as a Christian than a doctor or the President of IMA[1]: The Christian doctor has observed churches supporting members suffering from poverty, church hospitals serving the community at large, and fellow Christian physicians volunteering to serve in some of the places hardest hit by the coronavirus[2]. “I am able to see, even amid persecution, even amid difficulties, even amid the control by the government, even among the restrictions we face in openly proclaiming the message of love, by various means and ways, God Almighty is present,” he told CT (Christianity Today). Jayalal recently spoke with Christianity Today about the pandemic’s silver linings for Indian Christians and what Western Christians can learn; tensions with the government over modern and alternative medicine; and how his faith has affected his leadership of one of his nation’s largest professional councils of health care workers. “…. This was during lockdown, so the churches were closed for six or seven months. Church leadership identified the families that needed support and offered financial and material support and counselling to the church members who were below the poverty line…..”
Why the IMA has been defending Prof Dr Johnrose Austin Jayalal?: Immediately, on 30-03-2021, the IMA came out with a letter, of coursing adding the copy of the letter of Dr Johnrose Austin Jayalal, defending him, “It is unfortunate that some news is being circulated with notorious comments against our respected National President Prof Dr J A Jayalal. I am sharing his response which is self-explanatory and appropriate. Please also note that such false propaganda and wrong interpretations are viewed seriously at IMA HQ and necessary action shall be initiated in due course of time.” Again, three months later, the letter dated 01-06-2021 has been intriguing, as without mentioning anybody’s name, “People creating confusion during an epidemic regarding National Treatment Protocols and National Vaccination Programme are traitors and anti-national. They are anti people and anti humanity. They deserve no mercy.” However, they imitated their tirade only against Baba Ramdev!
March 2021 – Johnrose Austin Jaylal explained his strategy of conducting more services etc: The Christian doctor continued, “…..For instance, instead of one service, now we are having two services…….The congregational churches and independent churches were doing two things: social media and mass media support. Two main groups, Jesus Calls and Jesus Redeems, were systematically conducting services at particular times. In fact, people were able to spend a lot of time on religious activities………….We have seen how much time people will spend in front of the televisions and in front of the computers. But during the pandemic, families have come together, listening to the Word and participating in the prayers. That is a very good thing to happen……..I feel personally it was not a time of real difficulty for the Christians at that moment. We were able to worship and carry on our special assignments and duties. The only thing we were not able to do was meet as a congregation.” A Delhi mega-church pastor predicted in CT last year that the pandemic lockdowns would spur revival because Indian churches were turning unity efforts that started from persecution into service to community that extended beyond their church buildings on Sundays.
Rohit Jha filed a case against him in the Delhi Court – 03-06-2021 passed remarks against Johnrose Austin: When Johnrose Austin Jayalal showed his true colours, Rohit Jha filed a case in the Delhi High Court about his involvement in evangelization and thus strip of his membership to IMA[3]. As he expressed his conversion ideas in the interview, naturally, doubts arose as to how he could serve the patients as Christians and non-Christians[4]. Recently, on 04-06-2021, a trial court had pulled him up and cautioned him to “not use” the organisation as a platform to propagate any religion[5]. Additional District Judge Ajay Goel further asked Dayal to concentrate on the welfare of the medical fraternity[6]. “He shall not use the platform of IMA for propagating any religion and rather shall concentrate for the welfare of medical fraternity and progress in the medical field,” the judge said[7]. According to Jayalal’s appeal, the appellant gave the interview to Christianity Today, which was thereafter published on the website Christianity[8]. Citing the interviews given by the IMA chief, Jha sought the court’s direction to restrain Jayalal from writing, speaking in media, or publishing any content which is defamatory to Hindu religion or Ayurveda[9]. The trial court was hearing a suit filed by Rohit Jha, through advocate Sanjeev Uniyal, against Jayalal for allegedly starting a defamatory campaign against the Hindu religion by promoting Christianity in the grab of proving the superiority of Allopathic medicines over Ayurveda for treating COVID-19.
On 12-06-2021, Monday refused to stay an order of the trial court: The Delhi high court on 12-06-2021, Monday refused to stay an order of the trial court which had asked Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr Johnrose Austin Jayalal to refrain from using the organisation’s platform “for propagating any religion”[10]. Justice Asha Menon said that she will not pass any ex-parte order as nobody appeared on behalf of the person on whose complaint the trial court had passed the order on June 4, 2021[11]. It said the high court will have to look into the order passed by the trial court and cannot take a superficial view. Challenging the trial court’s order, advocate Tanmaya Mehta, representing Jayalal, claimed that the IMA chief never gave such an assurance to the trial court since he has not done anything wrong. He contended that there was no television debate between Jayalal and yoga guru Ramdev and that he was not propagating any religion, including Christianity. He further said that the suit before the trial court was based on fake news.
20-06-2021 – Court asked to file affidavit: A Delhi Court has asked Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) president, secretary, and others to file a response to a civil suit which sought direction to them to tender a public apology for allegedly making derogatory remarks against ayurvedic medicines and treatment[12]. Civil Judge Deeksha Rao issued notice to IMA, its president Johnrose Austin Jayalal, secretary Jayesh M Lele, National Medical Commission (NMC) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), asking them to file a reply on a suit filed by one Rajender Singh Rajput. The Court has listed the matter for further hearing on July 9, 2021[13]. Now, the vociferous IMA and the Hon’ secretaries and others have not joined the issue, to implead themselves and defending their president, as IMA too, was issued with the Court Notice.
27-07-2021, the appeal filed by Johnrose Austin Jayalal dismissed: The Delhi High Court on 27-07-2021, Tuesday dismissed the appeal filed by Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr Johnrose Austin Jayalal[14] challenging a trial court order that criticised his remarks on Ayurveda in an interview as allegedly “propagating Christianity”. Justice Asha Menon dismissed his appeal[15]. In his appeal, the IMA chief stated that “trial court without giving any heed to the maintainability of the suit passed an order and held that the appellant, Dr Johnrose Austin Jayalal is misusing his position of National President of Indian Medical Association for propagating Christianity over other religion“. After noting down the submission made by Advocate Tanmay Mehta, Justice Asha Menon of the Delhi High Court issued a notice in the appeal and sought the response of the complainant, Rohit Jha. Even his (Dr Johnrose Austin Jayalal) casual statement would have a big impact on society, the Delhi High Court told the IMA chief. Recently, a trial court had pulled him up and cautioned him to “not use” the organisation as a platform to propagate any religion. Additional District Judge Ajay Goel further asked Dayal to concentrate on the welfare of the medical fraternity. “He shall not use the platform of IMA for propagating any religion and rather shall concentrate for the welfare of medical fraternity and progress in the medical field,” the judge said.
Would IMA go on appeal in the Supreme Court in this case?: It is not known as to how the IMA deposed before the Delhi High Court or just allowed their president Prof Dr Johnrose Austin Jayalal to handle through his advocate. Anyway, now, as the Delhi High Court dismissed his petition, he should go on appeal or file revision petition in the Court. Even the IMA can come out with their statements defending their faithful president. In any case, it is intriguing to note how such highly learned professors, doctors and medical experts of various fields have decided to defend Prof Dr Johnrose Austin Jayalal, in spite of his controversial speeches and other activities. Even going by the secular yard stick, at lest some of them must or could have pointed out their biased, subjective and predisposed position and condition to do so, by defending the controversial doctor.
© Vedaprakash
04-08-2021
[1] Christianity Today, An Indian Christian Doctor Sees COVID-19’s Silver Linings, INTERVIEW BY MORGAN LEE ,MARCH 30, 2021.
[2] Johnrose Austin Jayalal, president of the Indian Medical Association, says the pandemic stirred the church to action.
[3] Nation World News Desk, IMA doctor demands resignation of JA Jayalal on Christian conversion, praises Ayurveda, U.S, 03/06/2021; Updated: 03/06/2021.
[4] https://nationworldnews.com/ima-doctor-demands-resignation-of-ja-jayalal-on-christian-conversion-praises-ayurveda/
[5] ANI, IMA chief moves Delhi HC against trial court order criticising his Christianity remarks, 14 June 2021. https://in.style.yahoo.com/ima-chief-moves-delhi-hc-132635633.html
[6] https://in.style.yahoo.com/ima-chief-moves-delhi-hc-132635633.html
[7] Brand.Bench, IMA Chief Johnrose Austin Jayalal moves Delhi High Court against trial court order deprecating interview to Christianity Today, Aditi, Published on : 14 Jun, 2021 , 3:30 pm.
[8] The President of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Johnrose Austin Jayalal has moved the Delhi High Court against a trial court order deprecating his interview to Christianity Today as being against secularism (Johnrose Austin Jayalal vs Rohit Jha).
[9] (Ajay Goel) Vacation Judge/ADJ-04/Dwarka Courts/SW New Delhi/03.06.2021….. Ld. Principal District & Session Judge, South West District, Dwarka on 09.06.2021
[10] Hindustan Times, HC refuses to stay order restraining IMA chief from using his post to ‘propagate any religion’, By HT Correspondent, PUBLISHED ON JUN 14, 2021 11:41 PM IST.
[11] https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/hc-refuses-to-stay-order-restraining-ima-chief-from-using-his-post-to-propagate-any-religion-101623694305664.html
[12] ANI, Delhi Court seeks IMA president’s response on suit, 20 Jun 2021, 03:03 GMT+10
[13] https://www.indiagazette.com/news/269964623/delhi-court-seeks-ima-president-response-on-suit
[14] ANI, Delhi HC dismisses IMA President’s plea against trial court order criticising his Ayurveda remarks as ‘propagating Christianity’, By Amiya Kumar Kushwaha, Updated: Jul 27, 2021 12:14 IST.
[15] https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/delhi-hc-dismisses-ima-presidents-plea-against-trial-court-order-criticising-his-ayurveda-remarks-as-propagating-christianity20210727121414/