Received 1.2K advertising code violation plaints: Vaishnaw

During the last three years and the current year, 1,246 complaints related to Advertising Code violation, including misleading advertisements, were received and these complaints have been suitably addressed as per the three-tier grievance redressal mechanism.

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This was stated by Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw in a reply to a question posed by MP Sanjeev Arora in the ongoing winter session of Parliament.

Arora had posed questions about the measures in place to prevent advertisements promoting ‘superstitious products’.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, Arora said the minister, in reply to his question, said all advertisements telecast on private TV channels were required to adhere to the Advertising Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act (1995), and the rules framed thereunder.

The government issued advisories from time to time to private TV channels for adhering to the code, the minister added in his reply. During the last three years and the current year, six advisories had been issued for adherence to the Advertising Code, he said.

Vaishnaw said advertisements in print media were governed by Norms of Journalistic Conduct issued by the Press Council of India under the Press Council Act, 1978.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has issued Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements (2022), which, inter alia, prescribed conditions to be adhered to in respect of advertising including duties of manufacturer, service provider, advertiser and advertising agency, he added.

Arora had posed a question about advertisements promoting superstitious products or services that had been identified, investigated and penalised in the last three years.

He had also enquired about the measures in place to prevent advertising of products or services that exploit people’s superstitions or claim unproven benefits through occult practices.

Arora said, “Advertisements promoting superstitious products in the media prey on fear and blind belief, often offering false hope instead of real solutions. Such practices not only exploit the vulnerable but also hinder societal progress by reinforcing myths over facts.”