As per a recent report, the consumer court in Kerala has ordered a restaurant to pay Rs 40,000 as compensation to a customer who had paid in advance for Onam sadya but did not receive it at her apartment on Thiruvonam day.
Woman Moves to Court on Not Getting Her Sadhya Delivered
The restaurant owner may have been caught off guard by the hefty fine, which might surprise some of us and leave others indifferent.
However, before delving into the details of the case, it is important to understand what Sadya is and why the customer felt so aggrieved by its non-delivery that she chose to seek legal recourse.
Sadya is a traditional Kerala meal served on a banana leaf during the 10-day Onam festival.
This elaborate vegetarian meal typically comprises dozens of dishes, ranging from two to three dozen and sometimes up to 64.
As the description suggests, Sadya is a significant part of the festival’s attraction.
On the day of Onam, Sadya is traditionally served during lunchtime on banana leaves, with diners sitting cross-legged on the floor and eating with their right hand.
The dishes are served in a particular order, with designated spots on the banana leaf.
For a Malayali who paid in advance but did not receive the ordered meal, it can be quite disappointing.
This is precisely what prompted the woman to take legal action against Maze restaurant, filing a complaint seeking compensation for their failure to deliver the pre-ordered and pre-paid Sadya on the day of Onam.
The following is the court’s statement on the matter.
Courts Directs the Restaurant to Pay Rs 40,000 towards Service Negligence & Agony
The District Consumer Redressal Commission in Ernakulam, chaired by President DB Binu and members V Ramachandran and Sreevidhia TN, stated that “Thiruvona Sadya holds great emotional significance for every Malayali.
It can be very frustrating to invite guests for ‘sadya,’ wait for an extended period of time, and not receive the specially ordered Onam Sadya.”
According to the consumer court, “The complainant experienced significant inconvenience, mental distress, hardship, and financial loss due to the negligence of the defendant.”
As a result, the restaurant was ordered to pay Rs 40,000 in compensation for their deficient service.
The plaintiff claimed that she had been enticed by the restaurant’s advertisement brochure, which promised the delivery of a ‘Special Onam Sadya’ on August 28, 2021, Thiruvonam day.
The plaintiff had prepaid Rs 1,295 and ordered Sadya from Maze restaurant for five individuals.
She claimed in court that the restaurant staff had assured her that the Sadya would be delivered to her flat on Thiruvonam day.
Despite her guests’ arrival by 1 pm, the food was not delivered.
The plaintiff alleged that the restaurant did not respond to any of her calls or messages inquiring about why the food was not delivered, and that her guests had to depart without eating, causing her embarrassment.
The plaintiff further alleged that the restaurant only responded around 6 pm with insufficient excuses and did not offer a refund.
As a result, she filed a complaint with the consumer court seeking reimbursement of her payment and Rs 50,000 in compensation for inadequate service and emotional distress.
Despite being served a notice, Maze restaurant failed to appear in court.
The court found the case to be credible and issued an ex-parte order instructing the restaurant to refund Rs 1,295, pay Rs 40,000 for deficient service and emotional distress, and pay Rs 5,000 in legal costs, according to Bar and Bench.
