In a significant ruling, the Kurnool District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has imposed a ₹55,000 penalty on a popular food delivery app and a local restaurant for delivering chicken pieces in a veg biryani order. The verdict came after the Commission observed that the incident had hurt the consumer’s sentiments and violated trust.
Incident That Triggered the Case
The complainant, Pocha Rajasekhar Reddy, a resident of Kurnool city, is a strict vegetarian. He ordered veg biryani worth ₹200 for his wife through a food delivery app. However, upon opening the package, he found chicken pieces mixed in the biryani.
Deeply disturbed by the incident, Rajasekhar Reddy immediately contacted the food delivery platform. When he received no proper response, he approached the District Consumer Commission, seeking justice.
Commission Expresses Strong Displeasure
After hearing the case, the Commission ruled in favour of the consumer. It stated that delivering non-vegetarian food in place of a vegetarian order showed gross negligence and disregard for the consumer’s beliefs and dietary practices.
The Commission ordered the food delivery company and the restaurant management to jointly pay ₹50,000 as compensation for mental agony and ₹5,000 towards legal expenses.
Strict Deadline and Additional Orders
The Commission directed the parties to pay the compensation within 45 days. It warned that failure to comply would attract 9 percent annual interest. In addition, the Commission ordered the restaurant and delivery platform to issue a written apology and take corrective steps to prevent such errors in the future.
Message to Consumers
The ruling sends a strong message that consumer rights must be respected, especially in matters involving food preferences and religious sentiments. The Commission noted that consumers should not hesitate to approach legal forums when service providers fail in their responsibility.
For more latest updates, click here.
