The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on Sunday informed that it has imposed a penalty of Rs 3 lakh on Sriram’s IAS coaching institute for misleading advertisement.
New Delhi: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on Sunday informed that it has imposed a penalty of Rs 3 lakh on Sriram’s IAS coaching institute for misleading advertisement on UPSC Civil Services(CSE) results 2022. The decision was taken to protect and promote the rights of consumers as a class and ensure that no false or misleading advertisement is made of any goods or services that contravenes the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
“In view of the violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the CCPA, headed by Chief Commissioner, Smt. Nidhi Khare, and Commissioner, Shri Anupam Mishra has issued an Order against Sriram’s IAS for misleading advertisement regarding UPSC Civil Service Exam 2022,” reads the order.
Furthermore, it stated that the Coaching Institutes and online edtech platforms use pictures and names of some successful candidates to influence prospective aspirants (consumers), without disclosing the courses opted by such candidates and the length of the course so attended. According to the press release, Sriram’s IAS in its advertisement made the following:-
- “200 plus selections in UPSC Civil Service Exam 2022”
- “We are India’s No.1 Prestigious UPSC/IAS Coaching Institute”
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) found out that Sriram’s IAS advertised various types of courses but the information with respect to the course opted by the advertised successful candidates in above mentioned UPSC Civil Service exams results was deliberately concealed in the advertisement. This led consumers to mistakenly believe that all the successful candidates so claimed by the Institute had enrolled in the paid courses advertised on its website.
“Section- 2(28) (iv) of Consumer Protection Act talks about misleading advertisement in relation to deliberately concealing important information. Information regarding the course opted by successful candidates is important for the consumers to know so that they can make informed choice while deciding which course and coaching institute to join,” reads the statement.
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