Coaching Centres Can't Use Photos Of Candidates Without Consent, Make Misleading Ads: Draft Guidelines
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has unveiled draft guidelines for coaching centres in order to curb misleading advertisements and false promises made by them.
According to the guidelines published on Friday for public feedback, coaching centres cannot use names, photos, testimonials or videos of successful candidates in advertisements without their express consent.
No promise of 100 per cent selection?
Coaching centres also cannot make false claims including 100% selection or 100% job guaranteed or guaranteed preliminary mains or guaranteed admission to institutions or false testimonials of successful students or fake reviews.
Coaching centres cannot mislead candidates by making exaggerated claims about their faculties' credentials and falsely represent that the courses or certificates offered have recognition and/or approval of the competent authority.
Disclose full information about successful candidates
The CCPA said that coaching centres should not conceal important information related to the name of the course (whether free or paid) and the duration of the course opted by the successful candidate or any other important information which can influence a consumer's decision to choose their services.?
They also cannot make false claims regarding success rates, number of selections, or rankings and give an impression that students' success is solely attributable to the coaching.
Don't create false sense of urgency
Coaching centres cannot create a false sense of urgency or fear of missing out that may heighten anxieties amongst students, or parents.
The draft guidelines were issued after the CCPA conducted a stakeholders consultation on misleading advertisements in the coaching sector in January.
No coaching centres in residential areas
In a related development on Thursday, the Delhi High Court said coaching centres that have more than 20 students should move out of residential areas and operate from commercial spaces.
A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan, while hearing a petition filed by the Coaching Federation of India, observed that students "run the risk of their lives" at coaching centres operating from residential buildings that do not have the required safety infrastructure, such as two staircases.
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