The Lahore High Court clarified that consumer court online shopping disputes over non-delivery and cancelled paid orders belong in consumer forums, not civil courts.
The Lahore High Court held that online shopping disputes, including non-delivery and post-payment cancellations, fall under consumer courts.
Justice Malik Waqar Haider Awan dismissed Dr Muhammad Ahtisham Qamar’s petition seeking to keep a damages claim in the civil courts.
Jurisdiction turns on the cause of action; calling compensation “general damages” does not shift an e-commerce dispute to a civil court.
The dispute began with two clothing items worth Rs6,480 paid by credit card; the order was cancelled after 17 days and a claim of Rs2,116,480 followed.
A civil court and an appellate judge had already directed the buyer to the forum under the Punjab Consumer Protection Act 2005.