KOLLAM: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Kollam, has directed a restaurant in Attingal to pay Rs 10,000 compensation to a consumer for allegedly serving hot food on artificial plastic-coated leaves and overcharging him for bottled water.
The commission also ordered Dev Residency (Royal Family Restaurant), Moonnu Mukku, Attingal, to refund Rs 8.59 collected in excess of the MRP of a water bottle and pay Rs 2,000 towards litigation expenses. The amounts have to be paid within 30 days of receiving the order.
The complaint was filed by a resident of Kavanad, who had visited the restaurant with his friends while returning from Thiruvananthapuram on September 5, 2024. According to the complaint, he ordered meals advertised as "vazhayilayil oonu (meals on plantain leaf), but was served food on artificial plastic leaves.
The complainant told the commission that when hot rice was served on the artificial leaves, the plastic coating began melting, producing a strong odour, while green colouring from the leaves mixed with the food. He also alleged that the curries served were stale and cold. When he raised the issue with the restaurant staff and manager, he was allegedly ridiculed and pushed.
The commission noted that the restaurant had not filed its version despite being served notice and the matter proceeded ex parte. The complainant's testimony remained unchallenged.
The commission observed that serving hot food on unsafe plastic-coated material was a matter of grave concern and held that representing the artificial leaves as traditional plantain leaves amounted to an unfair trade practice and deficiency in service under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
The order was pronounced on August 7, 2025, by commission president S K Sreela and member Stanly Harold.
