Court Fines Two Internet Providers Over Faulty Service

A consumer court has ordered two internet service providers (ISPs) to pay Rs. 50,000 in compensation to a customer after finding them responsible for providing deficient internet services.

The case was filed by lawyer Khaleeq Ahmed under the Sindh Consumer Protection Act, 2014, alleging that the companies repeatedly failed to provide reliable internet service despite receiving regular payments.

Judicial Magistrate (South) Abdul Ahad Memon ruled in favor of the plaintiff, directing the two ISPs to jointly pay Rs. 50,000 in compensation and deposit Rs. 5,000 as a fine into the Sindh government treasury.

The court also instructed the companies to improve their services and ensure uninterrupted, high-quality internet access for consumers.

In its order, the court noted that the plaintiff experienced prolonged service disruptions despite paying for the service and repeatedly lodging complaints. It observed that the companies failed to effectively address the issue and did not contest the proceedings despite being given multiple opportunities.

The court held that the plaintiff had successfully demonstrated that the internet providers failed to deliver the standard of service promised to customers, resulting in inconvenience, frustration and mental distress.

According to the plaintiff, the internet connection remained unstable and frequently disconnected despite multiple complaints and legal notices sent to the companies. The court concluded that the providers’ conduct amounted to a deficiency in service under the Sindh Consumer Protection Act, 2014.