According to the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the edtech company Byju’s is allegedly buying phone numbers of children and their parents and scaring them that their future would be ruined if they do not purchase their courses.
“We discovered that Byju’s was purchasing phone numbers of kids and their parents, rigorously following them, and warning them that their future would be ruined. They are aiming for first-generation students. “We will take action and, if necessary, will prepare a report and write to the government,” NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo told news agency ANI.
Previously, the commission summoned Byju’s CEO, Byju Raveendran, and asked him to appear in person on December 23 for alleged hard selling and misselling of its courses to students.
The panel took action in response to a news report that the company’s sales crew was engaged in unethical behaviour to entice parents to purchase their courses for their children.
“The Commission has come across a news report in which it has been said that the sales team of BYJU’s is engaging in malpractices to entice parents to purchase their courses for their children. It was also indicated in the news report that several clients complained they were abused and duped, putting their savings and futures at risk,” the NCPCR said in a statement.
According to the NCPCR, the news article also claimed that the edtech company had been actively duping customers into entering into loan-based arrangements for courses that could not be returned if customers requested it.
“The Commission has all of the powers of a Civil Court trying a claim under the Civil Procedure Code, 1908, according to Section 14 of the CPCR Act, 2005, and in particular, in respect of the following topics:- (a) summoning and compel the attendance of any person and interrogating him under oath; (b) discovery and production of any document; (c) receiving evidence on affidavits; (d) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office; and (e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents “It stated.
