Consumer court orders Physics Wallah to pay ₹50k compensation for deficiency in service

The Baramulla District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission recently held ed-tech company Physics Wallah Private guilty of deficiency in service and unfair trade practice for failing to provide a student access to a NEET coaching course despite being paid the requisite fee.

A coram comprising President Peerzada Qousar Hussain and Member Nyla Yaseen on March 9 ordered Physics Wallah to refund the ₹35,000 fee paid by the student's parent, and also pay ₹50,000 as compensation for causing the student academic loss. Additionally, the commission also ordered Physics Wallah to pay ₹10,000 as litigation costs.

The commission passed the order while deciding a consumer complaint filed by Sopore resident Irshad Rashid Dand.

The complainant said that he had enrolled his son in a NEET-2027 course titled “Pathshala 11th NEET Batch Code ANTIMA” through Physics Wallah's Pathshala centre at Sopore in Baramulla district.

The complainant deposited ₹5,000 on April 14, 2025, and ₹30,000 on April 25, 2025, making a total payment of ₹35,000 for the course. However, despite this and repeated follow-ups with Physics Wallah's representatives, the student was not provided batch access or allowed to participate in the course, the complaint stated.

The complainant added that he personally approached the centre coordinator several times, but the issue remained unresolved and only assurances were given. He also sent a written request to the institute seeking a refund of the deposited amount, but no refund was made.

The complainant also contended that the institute had mentioned an incorrect address on a receipt. The failure to provide the promised services, according to the complainant, resulted in academic loss to his son and mental agony to the family.

This led him to approach the consumer commission for relief.

Despite being served with notice of the case, Physics Wallah failed to appear before the commission or file any response, prompting the forum to proceed with deciding the matter without hearing the institute.

Meanwhile, the complainant stated that after notice of the consumer case was served, the institute began sending SMS and WhatsApp messages alleging non-attendance by the student and demanding the second instalment of fees, even though the student had never been granted access to the course.

After examining the material on record, the consumer commission found that Physics Wallah had accepted the fee but failed to provide the student access to the course, which it was duty-bound to do.

The commission held that such conduct clearly amounted to a deficiency in service and reiterated that retaining fees without rendering services is impermissible and constitutes an unfair trade practice.