ASCI Update: Complaints against 152 out of 209 ads upheld in August 2016

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), a self-regulatory body that propagates responsible advertising, has released a report of the complaints it received and upheld in the month of August 2016. The ASCI's Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) received complaints against 209 ads; complaints against 152 ads were upheld.

Of these, 66 advertisements were from the education category, followed by 27 ads in the healthcare category; 17 ads were from the food and beverages category, 10 ads from the personal care category and five from the clothing and accessories categories. 27 ads were upheld in the others category.

Education brands pulled up for violating ASCI guidelines for Advertising of Educational Institutions were Chennais Amirthas Institute of Hotel Management, P.K. University and Parul University.

Complaints against brands which were upheld in the healthcare segment for false, misleading, and unsubstantiated claims, and hence, violated the ASCI's code include Rajvaidya Shital Prasad & Sons (Hempushpa), Olefia Biopharma Limited (Votif Range of Products) and Chetanta (Get Diabetes cured by acupressure Spring).

The food and beverage brands that have come under the ASCI scanner for violation of advertising guidelines include B P Food Products (Double Trishul Atta), Eastern Foods (Eastern Spices) and Organic India (Organic Ghee).

Hindustan Unilever (Dove Soap), Biotique (Biotique bio kelp Shampoo) and Nivea India (Nivea Whitening Cell Repair Body Lotion) were the brands from personal care sector that were pulled up for violating ASCI guidelines.

Aliya Shoes, Zikimo Trends and Letv (Leeco) (Lemax2) were the brands pulled up from the clothing and accessories for violating ASCI guidelines.

Other brands which were pulled up for objectionable ads due to false and/or misleading claims include Trikhaldarshi Masaliya Aghori Bapu (Icchadari Vashikaran), Dr. Sneh's Mind Power (Mind power workshop) and Spice Jet.