
Adman Sandeep Goyal moves Punjab & Haryana HC against surrogate ads, seeks govt-led regulatory mechanism
A bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel issued notices to the central government, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Goyal, a 62-year-old Chandigarh resident and Managing Director of Rediffusion Brand Solutions Private Limited, has long opposed surrogate ads and has refused to work with tobacco and alcohol brands since their advertising was banned in India. With no personal or fiduciary interest in the case, his petition cites blatant violations of the Cable Television Network Rules 1994, the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003, and the CCPA Guidelines on Misleading Advertisements 2022.
The petition, argued by advocate Aadil Singh Boparai, highlights prominent examples of alleged surrogate advertising—including spots for brands like Vimal Elaichi, Rajshree Silver Coated Elaichi, and Pan Bahar—that aired on primetime TV, including IPL broadcasts. These celebrity-endorsed promotions, Goyal argues, mislead consumers and glamourize restricted products, fuelling a public health crisis. Studies have linked such advertising to increased tobacco and alcohol use among teenagers.
'The country is undergoing a health crisis wherein the youth of the nation is getting addicted to alcohol and tobacco at a tender age. It is submitted that the advertisements, which use renowned celebrities to advertise their product, not only promote the consumption of alcohol and tobacco but also validate their consumption through glamorous portrayal of alcohol and tobacco products,' says the petition.
The petition underscores the ineffectiveness of current self-regulatory frameworks, including those of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), in curbing misleading promotions. Goyal calls for a more robust, government-led regulatory mechanism to oversee advertising content.
The petition seeks the following reliefs:
• A writ of mandamus directing enforcement of the ASCI's Code for Self-Regulation in Advertising.
• A writ of mandamus directing implementation of the CCPA's 2022 Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements.
• A writ of mandamus for enforcement of the Cable Television Network Rules 1994.
• Any other directions the court deems appropriate.
Goyal contends that existing redressal mechanisms are too slow to counter the real-time impact of such ads, which continue to reach large audiences before any regulatory action is taken. He also draws on Supreme Court and high court observations calling for stronger regulatory oversight in the advertising sector.
Calling for stricter enforcement, the petition states, 'It is the assertion of the Petitioner that the growing problem of surrogate advertisements can be effectively tackled only by a Complaint Redressal Mechanism which works under the direct aegis of the Central Government and supervises all advertisements being published/broadcast.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


India Gazette
a day ago
- India Gazette
"Amongst global uncertainty, India is an oasis": Union Minister Piyush Goyal lauds PM Modi's leadership for economic growth
New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Monday said that the Indian economy is stable amid the global uncertainty. Piyush Goyal lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for industrial and infrastructure growth in the country. Speaking to reporters, Union Minister Goyal said, 'I think amongst the global uncertainty, India is an oasis. India is a stable economy. India has a huge domestic market. 140 crore Indians themselves drive economic growth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visionary leadership is helping India transform into a modern powerhouse of industry, infrastructure, innovation and clearly the world today looks up to India as an engine of growth.' He added that India will continue to enter trade arrangements with developed countries. 'We will continue to enter into modern trading arrangements with developed countries with whom we complement our strengths and their strengths so that it can be a win-win for both geographies,' Goyal said. Lauding tourism in India, Goyal said different parts of the country have something special to offer. Goyal told reporters, 'When tourists come from a foreign country, they want to witness the qualities of the country and experience new things. When a person visits Moradabad and witnesses the brassware, he will be astonished. If someone offers prayers at Tirupati and witnesses the sarees there, or witnesses the workmanship in Gujarat, he will be astonished. Every corner of our country has something special to offer.' Earlier on Monday, Piyush Goyal attended the National 'One District One Product' (ODOP) Awards 2025 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Sharing visuals from his address at the awards, the Union Minister wrote on X, 'Bihar is prioritising ODOP in all its 38 districts.' In another X post, he wrote, 'Our goal must be to make ODOP synonymous with high quality & high value globally.' (ANI)


India Gazette
a day ago
- India Gazette
Negotiations going on for win-win trade agreement with US: Union Minister Piyush Goyal
New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Monday said that India-US trade negotiations are going on, to come up with a win-win agreement for both nations. Speaking to reporters, Piyush Goyal said, 'Negotiations are going on at a very fast pace and in the spirit of mutual cooperation so that we can come out with a win-win trade complementing agreement with the United States.' Goyal's statement comes in the backdrop of talks with the US to finalise a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). India is making concrete progress toward finalising a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United States, with both countries committed to following the path outlined by their respective leaders, a senior government official said on Monday. Speaking on the ongoing trade negotiations, the official emphasised that India is 'moving in terms of a BTA' and actively 'looking at a mutually beneficial deal' that would serve the interests of both nations. The official highlighted that the current negotiations are proceeding along the framework established by the leadership of both countries, stating, 'We are following the path of BTA, which the two leaders have decided. 'When asked about the structure and timeline of the potential agreement, the official indicated that both nations are maintaining flexibility in their approach. 'We are looking at BTA. How it moves forward, whether there will be a first phase, a second phase, whatever phases will happen that will be mutually decided,' the official explained. A high-level team from India's Commerce and Industry Ministry has arrived in Washington DC, to take forward crucial negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United States. This round of negotiations is expected to begin on Monday morning (US time) and will continue for four days, another official told ANI. Rajesh Aggarwal, Chief Negotiator and Special Secretary of the Commerce Ministry, will join the scheduled discussions on Wednesday. India and the US have to narrow differences in sectors like agriculture and automobiles, and are looking for a win-win pact for both sides. The Trump administration has deferred imposing additional tariffs on several countries, including India, till August 1, with the two sides now having additional time to negotiate a deal beyond the initial deadline of July 9. (ANI)
&w=3840&q=100)

Business Standard
a day ago
- Business Standard
Govt to soon issue new guidelines to promote exports in new markets: Goyal
The government will soon issue new guidelines to promote the country's shipments in new markets and support first-time exporters, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday. He said that the ministry will partner with districts to promote one district one product (ODOP) goods. "The commerce ministry will soon be coming out with some more guidelines on how we can promote (exports in) new markets, new products and new exporters, first-time exporters," Goyal said while addressing the National One District One Product (ODOP) 2024 Award ceremony here. He said that India is like an oasis in a desert in a tumultuous world and is the fastest-growing large economy in the world today. India will become the third-largest economy in 2027, the minister said, adding, "we have so many diverse products that can take India globally". Citing examples of Wayanad's coffee, Ratnagiri mangoes, and saffron from Pulwama, he said that these represent the wide range of products that can take India's name to the world. He informed that 27 states have been approved for setting up PM Ekta Mall, which will promote products from different states. Under the ODOP initiative, the government has identified over 1,200 unique products from more than 750 districts across the country, spanning sectors such as agriculture, food processing, handloom, handicrafts, and others. These efforts are aimed at promoting value addition, marketing, and connecting local products with global markets.