New Delhi, Jan 16: Mobile users who feel harassed by unsolicited calls and text messages (SMS) from their service providers, banks or telemarketers are entitled to a minimum compensation of Rs 25,000, the state consumer commission has ruled.

"Every such subscriber who suffers this agony, harassment and nuisance shall be entitled to a minimum compensation of Rs 25,000... As and when he or she approaches consumer fora in this regard," said Justice J D Kapoor, president of the commission.

The commission gave this common order while disposing off a complaint of a south Delhi-based lawyer Nivedita Sharma, who alleged that she had been receiving 15 to 20 such unsolicited calls in a day.

Taking strong note of the growing menace of such unsolicited communication, the commission had yesterday slapped a fine of Rs 50 lakh on telecom giant Airtel and Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).

Sharma had filed a complaint against mobile service provider Airtel, ICICI bank and American Express alleging that she received unsolicited calls and SMS from them.

"It is very sad and disheartening that these communications... Create nuisance and disturbance to the day to day work of the consumers as these calls are made at odd hours, " the commission had said.