Restaurant Ordered to Pay ₹35,000 for Failing to Deliver Pickles and Not Issuing a Bill

A Consumer Court in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, has ordered a restaurant owner to pay ₹35,000 to a customer for failing to deliver pickles with 25 meals and for not issuing a receipt for the total payment of ₹2,000.

The Villupuram District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC) -- led by President D. Satish Kumar and members SM Meera Mohideen and K. Amala -- determined that the restaurant’s actions constituted a deficiency in service.

According to the Commission’s order dated May 9, the restaurant’s failure to provide pickles with the meals and not issuing a receipt for the payment were significant lapses. The complainant had contacted the restaurant and sent letters requesting a refund for the missing pickles, but the issue remained unresolved.

The Commission noted, "The act of not delivering pickles with 25 meals and failing to issue a receipt for the ₹2,000 payment amounts to a deficiency in service. This caused the complainant mental anguish."

The Commission ordered the restaurant to refund ₹25 for the missing pickles and to pay ₹30,000 in compensation for the mental and physical distress caused. Additionally, the restaurant was directed to pay ₹5,000 towards the complainant's litigation costs.

The case involved C. Arokiasamy, who had ordered 25 meal parcels from Hotel Balamurugan in November 2022 for a function marking the first death anniversary of a relative. The meal package, priced at ₹80 per meal, was supposed to include white rice, sambar, kara kuzhambu, rasam, buttermilk, koottu, poriyal, appalam, pickle, large banana leaves and a cover.

The complainant found that the pickles were missing when the meals were served and faced humiliation.

Despite the restaurant's acknowledgment of the mistake and an offer to deliver the pickles later, the complainant declined the offer since the guests had already finished their meal and requested a refund.

Additionally, the complainant received only a small slip, not a proper bill or receipt, for the ₹2,000 payment. The complainant appeared in person for the hearing.