Disrupting Online Studies Proves Costly for Company; Student Awarded ₹14,000

The District Consumer Commission in Chhattisgarh has held a service provider company liable following a complaint regarding a poor internet network. The Commission ordered the company to pay the student ₹10,000 as compensation and ₹4,000 toward litigation costs.

In today’s world, mobile internet has become an essential part of our daily lives. From online education and office tasks to downloading important documents, many activities depend on the internet. Consequently, when a mobile network fails to function properly, it causes significant inconvenience. For students pursuing their education online, a weak network can be a major obstacle.

A similar case has emerged in Chhattisgarh, where the District Consumer Commission provided relief to a student who faced disruptions in their online studies due to a poor network. The Commission has ordered the company to pay a total of ₹14,000 to the student.

What is the case about?

The matter concerns a student who, starting in September 2023, faced persistent issues including a poor network, slow internet speeds, call connectivity problems, and frequent signal loss. The student reported that these network issues were disrupting their online classes. Furthermore, the student struggled to download study materials and prepare for competitive examinations.

On September 21, 2023, the student filed a complaint via email with the company’s appellate authority. While the company acknowledged the network issues the following day, it claimed that resolving them would take approximately six months. Despite this, the problems persisted. In October 2023, the company assured that the network would be improved within 10 days; however, even after a subsequent complaint filed in January, the issues remained unresolved.

Why was the company ordered to pay compensation?

In his complaint, the student provided concrete evidence, including network speed test results, records of complaints previously lodged with the company, and screenshots illustrating the difficulties faced during online classes. Based on these documents, the Chhattisgarh District Consumer Commission concluded that the company had failed to resolve the network issues, despite repeated complaints.

Holding the company liable for a deficiency in service, the Commission directed it to pay the student ₹10,000 as compensation and ₹4,000 toward litigation costs—a total payment of ₹14,000.

Where should you file a complaint regarding network issues?

If you are also experiencing problems with your mobile network or internet service and the company is failing to take appropriate action on your complaints, you can seek assistance from the consumer helpline.

National Consumer Helpline: 1915
Chhattisgarh Consumer Helpline: 1800-233-3663