The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): India’s foremost authority on child welfare, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), has officially requested an investigation by the Delhi Police into an advertisement by the coaching institute FIIT-JEE, which allegedly disparages a former minor female student. The coaching institute has not yet responded to inquiries about the advertisement.
In a communication addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of South Delhi, the NCPCR expressed concern over the advertisement’s potential breach of laws safeguarding child rights and those against defamation. This ad, prominently displayed in a newspaper, included the student’s photograph, insinuating that her academic performance declined after transferring from FIIT-JEE to another institute.
The advertisement narrated the student’s academic journey, beginning in December 2020 when she joined FIIT-JEE for her IX class. It criticized her decision to switch institutes, claiming her achievements were overshadowed by those who stayed at FIIT-JEE, suggesting that her potential 99.99 NTA Score was adversely affected by the move. The institute went as far as to label the other institute as “EVIL,” claiming that any contribution to her performance was negative.
The ad, which sparked outrage on social media platform X, was criticized for negatively portraying a minor and calling for accountability. The NCPCR, alarmed by the ad’s potential harm to the girl’s reputation and mental health, leveraged its authority under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005, to demand action.
The commission underscored the ad’s possible infringement of defamation laws, as stipulated in Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, and called for a comprehensive investigation by the Delhi Police into the matter. The NCPCR has requested that the police submit a report on the actions taken in response to this incident within a week of receiving their directive.
This situation highlights the delicate balance between marketing strategies and the ethical considerations necessary when minors are involved, prompting a reevaluation of advertising practices in the educational sector.