Supreme Court Mandates Grievance Mechanism for Misleading Advertisements

The Supreme Court has ordered states and union territories to establish grievance mechanisms for misleading advertisements. States must create such systems within two months to enforce the 1954 Drugs and Magic Remedies Act. The decision mandates state, UT officers to handle violations and educate authorities.

The Supreme Court has taken decisive action to protect the public from misleading advertisements by ordering states and union territories to establish effective grievance redressal mechanisms. The ruling aims to enforce the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act of 1954, addressing a long-standing issue that lacks proper implementation.

The court emphasized the urgent need for states to set up complaint platforms, such as toll-free numbers or emails, to enable citizens to report objectionable ads. The states have a two-month deadline to publicize these systems widely, leveraging the involvement of law enforcement.

Furthermore, the court directed the appointment of authorized officers to execute searches and seizures under the 1954 Act. The Centre was tasked with creating a public dashboard to track actions against misleading ads and reinforcing self-declaration rules akin to the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994.

(With inputs from agencies.)