The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has cracked down on a prominent coaching institute for deceptive advertising practices, imposing a significant financial penalty. The regulatory body has ordered AjayVision Education Pvt. Ltd., which operates the website www.visionias.in, to pay a fine of Rs. 11 lakhs for persistently publishing misleading advertisements regarding the success of its students in the Civil Services Examination.
Investigation Uncovers False Claims
The CCPA initiated an inquiry after observing that VisionIAS was selectively publishing photos and names of certain successful candidates on its website to advertise its courses. The Authority invoked Clause 4 of the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022, which mandates that advertisements must be truthful and should not mislead consumers with claims that cannot be proven.
During the investigation, the CCPA demanded specific evidence from the institute. This included details of the students' enrolment, the courses they attended, their duration, dates of joining, fee receipts, and crucially, the consent obtained from students for using their names and photos in promotional campaigns. The institute was also asked to explain why complete details were not displayed on its website.
Institute's Defence Falls Flat
In its response, VisionIAS claimed that "creative size limitations" on the webpage prevented it from posting details of every student who secured a rank. However, the CCPA found this explanation unsatisfactory, noting that information for certain candidates was deliberately withheld while the promotional claims remained unverified.
The matter was then escalated for a detailed investigation by the CCPA's Director General. The probe revealed shocking anomalies. Some of the students listed as toppers on the institute's website were not even enrolled with it, completely undermining the advertised claims of success.
History of Violations and Hefty Penalty
Facing the music, the institute attempted another line of defence. It stated that the CCPA had previously ruled against its advertisements in a separate case, which was now pending in appeal before the National Commission. It argued that the CCPA should not adjudicate on the fresh advertisements. The Authority, however, dismissed this argument.
The CCPA observed that VisionIAS had failed to prove the correctness of its claims but had "brazenly continued" with the misleading promotional campaign. This demonstrated a disregard for consumer protection guidelines. Consequently, the Authority issued a dual order:
- It directed the institute to immediately desist from publishing any misleading advertisements.
- It imposed a monetary penalty of Rs. 11,00,000 (Eleven Lakh Rupees) for the violation and for continuing to mislead consumers.
This decisive action underscores the CCPA's commitment to curbing false advertising in the competitive education sector, especially in high-stakes fields like UPSC coaching, where aspirants are highly vulnerable to tall claims.
