Garments shop-owner fined for using unauthorized advertisements

Hyderabad, Feb.12 (Maxim News): “Readymade garments shop-owners are adopting unfair trade practices by using images of celebrities in advertisements published in newspapers for promoting their products. Taking this as serious issue, an Osmania University student lodged a complaint and won on a garment shop situated in city at Telangana Consumer Disputes and Redressal Cell.

Trader Shriram Fashion Clothing Company, for the purpose of promoting their sales, was advertising with photos of Indian Cricket Captain Virat Kohli. For the purpose of sale of the goods, giving such photos of such recognized person through advertisement in newspapers where innumerable people see, showing them as their company’s brand ambassador without their approval amounts to unfair trade practice and false statement and deceiving public at large. Baglekar Akash Kumar, Law student from Osmania University, lodged complaint at Telangana Consumer Affairs Redressal and Information Cell on November 9, 2018.

The Telangana Consumer Information Cell responded quickly and issued a notice to the owners of Shriram Fashion Clothing Company. On receiving the notice, the shop owners admitted their fault and agreed not to use celebrities’ pictures in their advertisements further. As they opted for unfair trade practice, the Consumer Redressal and Information Centre ordered the shop-owner to pay Rs 10,000 to complainant B. Akash Kumar. In return, Akash Kumar donated the amount to Telangana Consumer Redressal and Information Centre for their effort in bringing awareness among consumers and giving free consultation and solving cases. On Tuesday, Akash Kumar handed over the cheque to Secretary for Telangana Consumer Affairs Akun Sabharwal.

Akash Kumar said the way the Consumer Redressal Centre and Commissioner responded was appreciable. He thanked both Commissioner and Consumer Information staff as they handled the case very smoothly to see both the parties get equal justice. Secretary for Telangana Consumer Affairs Akun Sabharwal appreciated B. Akash Kumar on his initiative in taking the subject, which is first of its kind. He said people should be more cautious towards false advertisements and be more alert towards this type of unfair trade practices. (Maxim News)