Free Digital Services and Consumer Rights: WhatsApp Gets Interim Relief from Allahabad HC
WhatsApp argued that the absence of monetary consideration excludes the existence of a consumer relationship as defined under Section 2(7) of the Act;
In an order dated May 26, the Allahabad High Court at Lucknow Bench, stayed proceedings in a consumer complaint against WhatsApp and issued notice to original complainant, Amitabh Thakur.
Justice Pankaj Bhatia directed an interim stay while seeking reply from the opposite party within four weeks.
WhatsApp argued that the absence of monetary consideration excludes the existence of a consumer relationship as defined under Section 2(7) of the Act, as pleaded by Thakur before the Consumer Commission.
The Lucknow District Consumer Forum had earlier dismissed the complaint, holding that in the absence of monetary consideration, complainant cannot be called a “consumer” under provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, however, State Consumer Commission reversed that decision directing District Forum to decide matter on merits.
The matter is now expected to be taken up in the third week of July.
Case Title: Whatsapp v. Amitabh Thakur, MATTERS UNDER ARTICLE 227 No. - 3178 of 2025