INTRODUCTION:

In this century, India is expanding and one of the largest growing markets out there in the world. To suffice the consumer needs, there is an increase an immense competition amongst the sellers. Besides, the population growth is increasing each passing year; so are their purchasing capabilities. Thus, giving rise to a ruthless competition among the sellers as all of them want to gain profit. Hence, the seller’s often rely on advertisements to reach out to the customers. In addition, to make their product stand out and unique among the others they often make false and misleading claims about their products. 

FORMATION OF ADVERTISING STANDARDS COUNCIL OF INDIA: 

Ever since India gained independence in 1947 there has been an upsurge in the market whilst India developed economically and made global progression. The rivalry among the sellers increased this, the prominent members felt the need to ensure fair play among the sellers and manufacturers. in 1985 , the eminent personalities of a nation connected renowned men from the four sectors :

● Advertisers;

● Advertising agencies;

● Media broadcasting and the press; and 

● PR Agency and Market Research Agencies .

They came together to accept global best practices in the field of “Self Regulation in Advertising” . USA , UK, Germany has similar organisations known as “Self Regulatory Organisations” (SROs). Recently, there are more than 70 SROs working effaciously including India.  

ADVERTISING STANDARD COUNCIL OF INDIA (ASCI)

The ASCI  registered itself as self regulatory and non-profit company under section 25 of the Indian Companies Act of 1956. It is a voluntary self regulation council promoting self regulation in advertising. The consists of a board of Governor including 16 members representing the advertisers agencies media and other individual firms. It also has 21 members from the Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) , out of which 12 of them and notable personalities from fields such as medical, legal, engineering, human resources etc. The rest are from the advertisement agency. Presently there are 313 members. 

Funds are collected by the businesses undertaken by the ASCI through yearly membership subscription. The turnover of the subscriptions vary within the range of 2000 to 75000 per annum. 

OBJECTIVE OF ASCI:

The ASCI envision to do the following :

To monitor , manage and promote standards of advertising practices in India with a view to:

1. Ensure that there is truthfulness and honesty in the presentations and the claims made through the advertisement agencies against any misleading claims. 

2. Ensure that there is nothing offensive to the general mass of the nation and the standards of public agency in advertisements is followed. 

3. Ensure against any in discrimination use of advertisement for the purpose of products or services which are considered as hazardous to the general public or individuals which are unacceptable to the society as a whole.

4. Ensure that there is a fair play amongst the advertisement agencies and generally accepted competitive behaviour.

5. To codify, adopt and modify the code of advertisement from time to time and manage and control and publicize such code. 

6. To provide facilities and machinery in the form of one or more Consumer Complaint Council having such composition against advertisement in the code of advertisement practices and report thereon. 

MISSION OF ASCI:

The ASCI has a comprehensive goal to achieve and amplify the common mass’s confidence in advertising. ASCI seeks to safeguard the advertisements and uphold its code of self regulation which requires advertisements to be :

1. Truthful and honest to its customers and competitors.

2. To stay within the periphery of societal standards and public decency.

3. To not used in discrimination to promote hazardous products.

MAIN ACTIVITIES OF THE ASCI:

The ASCI  codify, adopt and modify the advertisement practices in India from time to time and implement, administer and promote, promulgate and publicize such code. Provides facilities and machinery in the form of Consumer Complaints Council having such composition and power prescribed from time to time to examine complaints against ads in terms of the code and report there on.

Give wide publicity to the code and seek adherence to it of as many as possible of those engaged in advertising. To print and publish templates, leaflets and circulars or other literature or material that may be considered desirable for the promotion or carrying out of the objectives of the company and disseminate it through any medium of communication. 

THE ASCI CODE:

The ASCI  has adopted to code for Self Regulation and Advertising. The code is framed by eminent personalities belonging to various professions and industries connected with advertising and media. The purpose of the code is to control the ingredients of advertisement not to impede the sell of offensive products for reasons what so ever the cause maybe, provided that the advertisements are themselves not offensive in nature therefore causing no objectification by this code.

The ASCI Code is now a part of cable television network rules. The rule 7(9) states that no at which violates the code of self-regulation in AD as adopted by ASCI Mumbai for public exhibition from time to time shall be carried in cable service. This recent amendment has now the immense power to the ASCI. 

When the court will start gaining popularity among the general public, there will be :

● Lesser false misleading claims;

● Fewer unfair advertisements; and

● Increasing responsibility. 

CODE FOR SELF REGULATION:

The code for self regulation in advertising adopted by the members of the advertising standards Council of India is as follows :

“The purpose of the food is to control the content of advertisements not to have for the sale of products which may be found defensive for whatever reason why some people provided the advertisements for such products are not themselves offensive that will be normally no ground for objection to them in terms of the code. “

RESPONSIBILITY FOR OBSERVATION OF CODE:

The responsibility for the observation of code for self regulation it advertisement lies with the persons who are engaged in commission, creation or publication of advertisements, or assist in the creation or publication of any advertisement. None of these advertisement agencies are expected to create content of advertisements which contravene this code. This is a self imposed discipline which the code requires for self regulation in advertisement from all those who are involved in the commissioning or creation and placement or publishing of advertisements. 

Besides this code is applicable for advertisements read ,heard or viewed in India even though if they are originated in any foreign country as long as the consumers of India at exposed to those advertisements. 

THE CODE AND THE LAW:

The code rule along with various provisions of common law and statutes affecting form and content of advertisements. The rules of the court are not to upsurp the legal machinery but designated to complement legal control . 

CONSUMER COMPLAINTS COUNCIL:

The Consumer Complaints Council (CCC)  is appointed by the board of governors. There shall be no more than 21 members out of which 12 shall belong to the civil society and nine from the advertisement agency. The CCC decide upon complaints within a period of 4 to 6 weeks. the CCC examine and investigate the Complaints received from customers and the public regarding any breach of the code of conduct and or any action to be taken in this regard. 

POWERS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS COUNCIL:

The following are the powers of the CCC: 

1. Each Council is entitled to receive complaints from the board of Governor, the consumer and the public and members of company. 

2. Each Council must enquire, investigate and decide upon the Complaints they have received within a framework provided by the code of conduct adopted by the company. 

3. All the decision by the Council shall by simple majority in writing and specify the actions to be taken in respect of offensive advertisement.  

The ASCI encourages a common mass to file complaint against advertisements which they find to be expensive and each of these complaints received unparalleled and impartial and unbiased consideration by the CCC which considers and takes into account the viewpoint of the advertisers and consumers and check if it’s communicated well and/ or it contravenes the code of conduct. 

The role of CCC, deals with complaints relating to consumer and industry, advertisements which are false, indecent, offensive or illegal or promote unfair competition and which contravene the code of ASCI.

JURISDICTION:

The ASCI deals with cases related to infringement of intellectual property rights. In the case  of Procter and Gamble Home Products Vs Hindustan Unilever limited , the Delhi High Court had discussed at length about the jurisdiction of the Advertising Standard Council of India. It was held that the ASCI is a self regulatory body in the advertising field but not for dispute resolution or awarding damages to plaintiff. However, there is a complaint committee, but it is only to self regulate. If the ASCI find any complaint of merit, they can only recommend the advertiser but there is no mechanism to grant any relief to the plaintiff. 

Although the Delhi High Court was of a different view in the case of, Metro Tyres limited Vs ASCI , that the role of ASCI is self regulatory and in curtailing the litigation thereby providing a mechanism for amicable settlement of disputes and also function as an alternative dispute mechanism.

CONCLUSION:

The ASCI, is the non profitable self regulatory and non governmental body. The role of ASCI is now being recognised by the Supreme Court as well as a self regulatory mechanism for advertisements in India. Although till now it has only mainly made recommendations to the advertisers and they cannot grant relief at compel them to follow any orders. But as a self regulatory body through an attempt to curb the unfairness and exaggerated claims by the advertisement agencies, the ASCI has had come a long way and has a long journey ahead of it. This organisation has changed the outlook of advertising in India. And the Consumer Complaints Council has provided the common people to file complaint against offensive ads as the right guaranteed to the customer.