ASCI Update: Complaints against 38 out of 70 ads upheld in November 2015

Nineteen ads belonged to the healthcare category.

The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), a self-regulatory body that propagates responsible advertising, has released a report about the complaints it received and upheld in the month of November. The ASCI's Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) received complaints against 70 ads; complaints against 38 were upheld.

Of these, 19 belonged to the healthcare segment, 10 ads belonged to the others segment, five ads belonged to the telecommunications and broadband segment, and four ads belonged to the personal care segment.

Brands that were pulled up for their ads within the healthcare segment include Ayurwin Pharmaceutical (Nutrigain, Nutrislim), Chaturbhuj Pharma Co (Japani M & F Capsules, Japani Oil), BT-36 Caps Oil & Cream, Sanjeevani Netralaya Retina Care Centre, Bio Veda Action Research Co (Big Margosa Anti-Dandruff Shampoo & Conditioner), The Body Care & Cure, Vacuum Therapy, Shathayu Ayurveda (Ways to Tackle Diabesity), Noor Davakhana, Homeocare International and Vacurect. Most ads were found to be objectionable due to their unsubstantiated, misleading and/or false claims.

Brands which were pulled up in the 'others' segment include Vimal Pan Masala, Axis Bank (Axis Bank Credit Cards), Fedex Express Transportation & Supply Chain India (Fedex Express Courier), Flipkart Private Internet (Tek-Tron Velroc Safety Outdoor Shoes), Myntra.com (Offer of 35 per cent extra), Bajaj Auto (Bajaj Pulsar), Nissan Motor India (Datsun Go NXT), InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo Airlines), LAVA International (Lava Pixel V1) and Baba Mirza Ji.

Telecommunications and broadband brands whose ads were found objectionable include Bharti Airtel (Airtel-4G), Idea Cellular (Idea NMNP) and Bharti Softbank (Hike Messenger). The ads were found to be unsubstantiated and misleading and/or false claims, in addition to contravening Chapters 1.1 and 1.4 of the ASCI's code. Bharti Airtel violated the guidelines on size and duration of Supers (Airtel 4-G).

Patanjali Ayurved (Kesh Kanti Oil), Keya Seth's Ayurvedic Solution (Stopage Cream), Nature's Essence (Kesh Vishesh Herbal Oil) and Nature's Essence (Nature's Essence Gold Kit) were found to be objectionable brands owing to their unsubstantiated claims within the personal care segment.

The ASCI, which was established in 1985, launched a mobile app in June 2015, which allows consumers to complain against offensive ads by clicking pictures of the same and sending it to ASCI instantly.