Mumbai: The Delhi high court has stayed an interim order of the Delhi state consumer commission restraining mobile service providers from holding contests or lotteries as part of their promotional activities.

The order was delivered after hearing the contention of telecom major Vodafone Essar and the Cellular Operators Association of India, who had jointly filed a petition in the court.

"The operation of the impugned interim order of the consumer commission is suspended till the final order is passed by the commission on the complaint filed by an NGO," Justice S Ravinder Bhatt said in his order.

The court also said the telecom companies can approach it for relief against the final order of the commission.

The commission is to hear the case on September 25.