Institute of Technology & Management - Institute of Technology & Management,Maharajganj

Recommendation: Upheld | Medium: Suo Motu - NAMS (TAMS)

The ASCI had approached the advertiser for its response in addressing the objection raised in the complaint. The advertiser was offered an option to seek Informal Resolution (IR) of the complaint by modifying or withdrawing the claim objected to in the advertisement, or alternately to substantiate the claim with the required supporting data. The advertiser was also offered an opportunity for a telecon with the ASCI Secretariat. The Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) noted that no response was received from the advertiser prior to the prescribed due date for this complaint. Upon careful consideration of the complaint and in the absence of any response from the advertiser, the CCC concluded that the claim, “100% Placement (Summer training - by IIT Kanpur)”, was not substantiated with authentic supporting data such as batch size of students per year, detailed list of students and evidence to support their enrolment, contact details of students for verification, list of students who were placed through their institute in relevant industry sectors on completion of their courses, their appointment letters, list of students who were not placed and the reason for their non-placement, nor any independent audit or verification certificate. The claim is misleading by exaggeration. Furthermore, the advertisement did not have any disclaimers to indicate “Past record is no guarantee of future job prospects” nor did it have a declaration of the total number of students passing out from the placed class. The advertisement contravened Guidelines for Advertising of Educational Institutions and Programs, ASCI Guidelines for Disclaimers made in supporting, limiting or explaining claims made in advertisements, as well as Chapters I.1 and I.4 of the ASCI Code. This complaint was UPHELD.