MAM
UP Transport Department asks ASCI to enforce responsible advertising in auto sector
MUMBAI: The Uttar Pradesh Department of Transport has approached The Advertising Standard Council of India (ASCI) for taking action against automotive advertisements that depict violation of traffic rules.
Through a letter, Transport & Road Safety commissioner K. Ravindra Naik has strongly backed ASCI for its efforts in promoting responsible advertising and has requested the industry body to instruct advertising agencies to adhere to the self-regulatory code.
Early in July, highlighting the recent incident of a road accident in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 10th edition of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme also focused on the importance of road safety in the country. He said, “It is the duty of every family to inform youngsters about the importance of road safety rules.”
“According to the statistics of road accidents in the country, every four minutes a person dies in a road accident and around one – third of those dying in road accidents are between 15 and 25 years of age. It is the need of hour on creating awareness of road safety across the country as also through the manner in which advertisements depict responsible driving,” he added.
ASCI chairman Narendra Ambwani said, “ASCI has been very proactive on the subject of advertisements for Automotive Vehicles and came up with a specific guideline in April 2008. Chapter III.3 of the ASCI’s Self-Regulatory code prescribes that ‘Advertisements shall not, without justifiable reason, show or refer to dangerous practices or manifest a disregard for safety or encourage negligence.’ We welcome this move by the Department of Transport, Uttar Pradesh for discouraging depiction of rash and unsafe driving. We hope each state in the country will also take effective measure to encourage responsible advertising and promote road safety.”
The Department of Transport, Uttar Pradesh has also requested ASCI to ask advertising agencies to take effective measures to follow the said guidelines and to blacklist the agencies that do not comply with ASCI’s recommendations. The State Transport Authorities of UP has also written to all District Magistrates in the state to take action in this matter.
According to self–regulation guidelines on advertisements for automotive vehicles, advertisers are encouraged to depict advertisements in a manner, which promotes safe practices, e.g. wearing helmets and fastening of seatbelts, not using mobile phones when driving etc. The advertisements should not portray violations of any traffic rules, should not show speeding or manoeuvrability in a manner which encourages unsafe or reckless driving, which could harm the driver, passengers and / or the general public, or show stunts or actions which require professional driving skills, in normal traffic conditions which, in any case, should carry a readable cautionary message drawing viewers’ attention to the depiction of stunts.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
