Adman Sandeep Goyal seeks government grip on surrogate ads in High Court battle
HighlightsSandeep Goyal, managing director of Rediffusion Brand Solutions, has filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Punjab and Haryana High Court advocating for a government-led regulatory body to address surrogate advertising issues. The petition highlights violations of key regulations, including the Cable Television Network Rules of 1994 and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act of 2003, citing examples of surrogate advertising from prominent brands like Vimal Elaichi and Pan Bahar. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has acknowledged the petition, issuing notices to the Central Government, Central Consumer Protection Authority, and Central Board of Film Certification, indicating serious public health concerns related to misleading advertising practices.
In a significant legal challenge, veteran adman
Sandeep Goyal
, the managing director of
Rediffusion Brand Solutions
, has filed a
Public Interest Litigation
(PIL) in the
Punjab and Haryana High Court
, urging for a direct government-led regulatory body to curb the pervasive issue of
surrogate advertising
. The petition, currently under the scrutiny of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel, contends that existing self-regulatory frameworks are insufficient and too sluggish to combat the real-time impact of these misleading promotions.
Goyal, who has consistently refused to work with tobacco and alcohol brands since their
advertising
was banned in India, asserts that he holds no personal or financial stake in the outcome. His PIL highlights what he describes as blatant violations of crucial regulations, including the Cable Television Network Rules 1994, the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003, and the CCPA Guidelines on Misleading Advertisements 2022.
The petition specifically points to prominent examples of alleged surrogate advertising, citing brands like Vimal Elaichi, Rajshree Silver Coated Elaichi, and Pan Bahar. These ads, often featuring well-known celebrities, are frequently seen during prime-time television slots and high-profile events such as IPL broadcasts. Goyal argues that such promotions subtly endorse restricted products, misleading consumers and contributing to a growing public health crisis, particularly among young people. "The country is undergoing a health crisis wherein the youth of the nation is getting addicted to alcohol and tobacco at a tender age," the petition states, emphasizing how
celebrity endorsements
"glamorize" and "validate" the consumption of these products.
The PIL underscores the ineffectiveness of current industry self-regulation, including the
Advertising Standards Council of India
(ASCI), in adequately reining in these deceptive practices. Goyal's petition, argued by advocate Aadil Singh Boparai, seeks strict enforcement of existing laws and guidelines. Crucially, it calls for a more robust, government-led mechanism to actively supervise all advertising content.
The High Court has taken cognizance of the matter, issuing notices to the central government, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). This move signals the judiciary's recognition of the potential public health implications of unchecked surrogate advertising, setting the stage for a significant legal debate on the future of advertising regulation in India.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
India-US trade pact: Effort on to facilitate preferential market access for both sides, says Piyush Goyal
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel India and the United States are keen on providing preferential market access to each other's businesses, with teams from both nations collaborating on a proposed bilateral trade agreement, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on June 2. In February, Donald Trump and Narendra Modi underlined the two sides' intentions to negotiate the initial phase of a mutually advantageous multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by the fall of 2025, specifically targeting agreement aims to increase bilateral trade from the current figure of $191 billion to $500 billion by the year told reporters in Paris, during an official visit, that both nations are dedicated to collaborating and that there is a mutual desire to provide preferential access to each other's response to a question regarding Trump's announcement to raise tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50 per cent, Goyal stated that both countries will continue to work on resolving such issues through bilateral discussions."Let's wait and see; both the US and India share a positive relationship and will persist in resolving these matters through dialogue," Goyal specialists have indicated that the Trump administration's potential increase in import duties could adversely affect Indian exporters, particularly those involved in value-added steel products and auto May 30, Trump declared his plan to raise the existing 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, effective June 4. The initial tariffs were invoked in 2018, with a 25 per cent tariff on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum, which was later raised to 25 per cent on aluminum in February the fiscal year 2024-25, India exported iron, steel, and aluminum products worth $4.56 billion to the US, with key exports including $587.5 million in iron and steel, $3.1 billion in iron or steel articles, and $860 million in aluminum and related has also lodged a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO), asserting its right to impose retaliatory tariffs on American goods in reaction to the previous steel tariffs. This week, a delegation of US officials is visiting India to discuss the proposed interim trade agreement between the two significance of this visit is heightened by the expectation that India and the US may reach an interim trade agreement by the end of June, with India advocating for a complete exemption from the 26 per cent reciprocal tariff on domestic Agrawal, India's chief negotiator and Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce, concluded a four-day visit to Washington last month, where he engaged in discussions with his US counterpart regarding the proposed agreement. Goyal was also in Washington to further advance trade negotiations. There is a possibility that both nations might finalize an interim trade deal prior to the first phase the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, the US maintained its status as India's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $131.84 billion. The US contributes approximately 18 per cent to India's total goods exports, 6.22 per cent to imports, and 10.73 per cent to the overall merchandise trade of the India's free trade agreement with the four-nation European bloc EFTA, Goyal clarified that the $100 billion foreign direct investment (FDI) commitment under this agreement does not account for funds entering the stock market through foreign institutional investors (FIIs)."This represents solid FDI coming into the nation... This $100 billion in FDI is accompanied by technologies... It will likely catalyze approximately $500 billion in investments," he stated. He emphasized that such investments would foster the development of a comprehensive ecosystem, leading to the establishment of hotels, infrastructure, and the utilization of power and water resources, thus significantly contributing to the economy. The implementation of this pact is advancing rapidly, with expectations for it to be operational by the year's Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) was signed by the two sides on March 10, 2024. Under this agreement, India has secured an investment pledge of $100 billion over 15 years from the grouping, while allowing several products, including Swiss watches, chocolates, and cut and polished diamonds, to be imported at lower or zero members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. When queried about the possibility of a similar arrangement in the proposed trade pact with the 27-nation EU bloc, Goyal remarked, "The member countries are significant investors in India, so we may not pursue that avenue in our FTA with the EU."
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
India, U.S. desire to give preferential market access to businesses; talks on for trade pact: Goyal
India and the U.S. desire to give preferential market access to each other's businesses and teams of both the countries are working together on the proposed bilateral trade agreement, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said. In February, U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi announced plans to negotiate the first tranche or phase of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall (September-October) of 2025. It is aimed at more than doubling the bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 from the current level of $191 billion. "Both countries are committed to work together, both countries desire to give preferential access to each other's businesses and we are working towards the bilateral trade agreement," Mr. Goyal told reporters in Paris. Mr. Goyal is here on an official visit to hold talks with French leaders and business representatives to boost trade and investments. When asked about an announcement of Mr. Trump to double tariffs on steel and aluminium to 50%, he also said that the two countries will continue to work together to resolve all these issues bilaterally. "Let us wait and watch ...both the U.S. and India share good relations and we will continue to work together to resolve all these issues bilaterally," he said. Trade experts have stated that the further increase in the import duty by the Trump administration would impact Indian exporters, particularly those engaged in value-added and finished steel products and auto-components. On May 30, Mr. Trump announced that he would double the existing 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from June 4. Mr. Trump originally invoked this provision in 2018 to set the 25% tariff on steel and 10% on aluminium. He raised tariffs on aluminium to 25% in February 2025. In 2024-25, India exported $4.56 billion worth of iron, steel, and aluminium products to the U.S., with key categories, including $587.5 million in iron and steel, $3.1 billion in articles of iron or steel, and $860 million in aluminium and related articles. India has already issued a formal notice at the World Trade Organization (WTO), reserving its rights to impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods in response to the earlier steel tariffs. A team of U.S. officials is visiting India this week for discussions on the proposed interim trade agreement between the two countries. The visit gains importance as India and the U.S. are likely to agree on an interim trade agreement by the end of June, with New Delhi pushing for full exemption from the 26% reciprocal tariff on domestic goods. India's chief negotiator, Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce Rajesh Agrawal, last month had concluded his four-day visit to Washington. He held talks with his U.S. counterpart on the proposed agreement. Mr. Goyal too was in Washington to give an impetus to trade talks. There is a possibility that both sides agree on an interim trade deal before the first tranche. Also read | U.S. remains India's largest trading partner for fourth consecutive year in 2024 -25: Government data The U.S, remained India's largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at $131.84 billion. The U.S, accounts for about 18% of India's total goods exports, 6.22% in imports, and 10.73% in the country's total merchandise trade. Talking about India's free trade pact with four-European nation bloc EFTA, Mr. Goyal said $100 billion FDI (foreign direct investment) commitment under the agreement does not include money coming into stock market through FIIs. "This is solid FDI coming into the country... This USD 100 billion of FDI comes with technologies... It will (also) catalyse nearly USD 500 billion of investments roughly. With this investment, the whole ecosystem gets created, hotels come up, infrastructure comes up, power and water is utilised. The whole ecosystem will add much more to the economy. So it's a massive investments that we are looking coming through this EFTA agreement," he added. The implementation process of this pact is progressing fast and is expected to come into force before the end of this year. The two sides signed the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) on March 10, 2024. Under the pact, India has received an investment commitment of $100 billion in 15 years from the grouping while allowing several products such as Swiss watches, chocolates and cut and polished diamonds at lower or zero duties. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. When asked if India would have similar arrangement in the proposed trade pact with the 27-nation bloc EU, he said: "The member countries are large investors in india, so we may not go that ground in our FTA with EU."
United News of India
an hour ago
- United News of India
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on three-day visit to France, to strengthen economic ties
New Delhi, June 1 (UNI) Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is on a three-day visit to France during which he will hold bilateral meetings with the French Ministers of Economy and Trade to strengthen the economic partnership. While in France, he will also engage in informal WTO Ministers' gathering on the margins of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting, and will also hold bilateral engagements with trade ministers of the UK, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Nigeria and Brazil. The Commerce Minister is on a visit to France and to Italy from June 1-5, as part of India's commitment to deepening strategic and economic ties with key European partners and advancing a shared vision for resilient and inclusive global growth. During his engagements in France, Goyal is to hold bilateral meetings with French Ministers, including Eric Lombard, Minister of Economy, and Laurent Saint-Martin, French Trade Minister. The discussions will focus on strengthening the Indo-French economic partnership and exploring new avenues for enhancing trade and investment cooperation, a statement said. As part of the high-level visit to France, a comprehensive agenda of strategic business meetings and engagements has been scheduled - with top leadership of major French companies such as Vicat, Total Energies, L'Oréal, Renault, Valeo, EDF and ATR, the visit will feature the India-France Business Round Table and the India-France CEO Forum, fostering dialogue between leading industry stakeholders from both countries. During his stay, the Minister will also participate in the informal gathering of WTO Ministers on the margins of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. At this crucial forum, he will engage with global counterparts on key multilateral trade issues and articulate the perspectives and priorities of India. As part of the visit, the Minister will hold a series of high-level bilateral meetings with key international partners. These include the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds; Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Gan Kim Yong; and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Commerce, Majid bin Abdullah Al-Kasabi. Minister Goyal will also engage with Israel's Minister for Trade and Investment, Nir Barkat; Nigeria's Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole OON; and Brazil's Foreign Minister, Mauro Luis Iecker Vieira. These dialogues are aimed at advancing strategic economic cooperation and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships across regions. They will also provide significant impetus to India-EU FTA negotiations. Further reinforcing India's engagement with regional blocs, meetings are planned with key EU officials, including Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, and Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food. These engagements reflect India's ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral and multilateral partnerships, and position itself as a pivotal player in global trade and investment. Following his engagements in France, Goyal will proceed to Italy for the next leg of his visit. UNI RN
