185 advertisers come under ASCI scanner for flouting guidelines

185 advertisers come under ASCI scanner for flouting guidelines

MUMBAI: In March 2015, the Advertising Standard Council of India’s (ASCI) Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) upheld complaints against 185 out of 230 advertisements.

 

Out of 185 advertisements against which complaints were upheld, 81 belonged to the personal and healthcare category, followed by 57 advertisements in the education category, with 47 advertisements in other categories.

 

In the print and broadcast category, advertisements were upheld against TV Today Network limited, Times Network, Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited and Matrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co. Ltd. amongst others.

 

The CCC found the following claims in 81 health and personal care product or service advertisements to be either misleading or false or not adequately or scientifically substantiated and hence violating ASCI’s code. Some of the health care products or services advertisements also contravened provisions of the Drug & Magic Remedies Act and Chapter 1.1 and III.4 of the ASCI Code.

 

The advertisements against which complaints were upheld included Dr. Batra’s Homeopathy, Lifespan Diabetes & Cardiometabolic Clinic, Zee Laboratories, Hashmi Dawakhana, Sanjivani Homoeopathic Centre and Herbal Life Clinic amongst others.

 

In the education category, the CCC found following claims in the advertisements by 57 advertisers were not substantiated and, thus, violated ASCI Guidelines for Advertising of Educational Institutions. Hence complaints against these advertisements were upheld.

 

The advertisements against which complaints were upheld included SCIT Community College of IT & Management, St. Margaret Engineering College, ICS Coaching Centre and CL Educate Ltd amongst others.

 

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