Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) today elected R K Swamy BBDO Chairman and Managing Director Srinivasan K Swamy as its chairman.
"We are confident that the marketing and advertising sectors, industry bodies, regulators, consumer activists and the general public will actively seek ASCI's services and make self-regulation more relevant in the increasing competitive environment," Swamy said in a statement issued here.
"It is heartening to note that the Parliamentary Standing Committee has recognised the role played by ASCI and have recommended that ASCI should be given some legal teeth," he added.
Swamy also said that he is excited to take charge at a time when so many important things are on the anvil to further strengthen the principles of self-regulation.
Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies Vice Chairperson Abanti Sankaranarayanan was elected as the Vice Chairman of the advertising watchdog ASCI, while Media Brands Chief Executive Officer Shashidhar Sinha was re-appointed as the Honorary Treasurer.
It also upheld a complaint against private carrier IndiGo.
"The ad claim 'With fares starting at just Rs 858, book till November 8 2016 for travel between January 11, 2017 and April 11, 2017' is false as no such flight fare exists, and is misleading by ambiguity as there is no specific information about which route or for which flight this offer is available," it said.
It also upheld complaints against online retailer Amazon for inflating the MRP of a smartphone and then giving a discount.
"For the product HTC Desire 620G Dual Sim being sold on Amazon India, the website communication claiming the MRP of the product as Rs 14,900 is false.
"The ad offering at discounted price of Rs 7,375 when the actual MRP of the product is Rs 9,990 distorts facts and is therefore misleading the consumers as to actual discount being offered," it said.
It also found an ad of telecom services provider Idea Cellular "false and misleading by omission" where it offered free recharge worth Rs 50 by calling 53111.
"The ad claim... Is false and misleading by omission as the free recharge was not being offered to every caller but subject to certain terms and conditions," CCC said.
ASCI also upheld a complaint against Philips Appliances for claims of life-long free service, with terms and conditions which were incomprehensible and in an illegible font size.
