Kerala consumer commission orders biryani cafe to pay Rs 96,500 to woman

A consumer commission in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district has directed the proprietor and manager of a biryani cafe in Ranni to jointly pay Rs 96,500 to a woman who alleged that she fell seriously ill after consuming food from the eatery.

The Pathanamthitta District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ordered King's Biriyani Cafe proprietor Ashish John Mathew and the cafe manager to pay Rs 36,500 towards medical expenses, Rs 50,000 as compensation and Rs 10,000 towards litigation costs. The amount has to be paid within 30 days.

The complaint was filed by Reena Thomas, a resident of Vechoochira, who said she and her sister visited the cafe at Chethonkara in Ranni on 21 October 2025. They ordered alfaham, an Arabian-style grilled chicken dish.

According to Thomas, she noticed an unusual difference in the taste shortly after they began eating and alerted the waiter. The waiter allegedly dismissed the concern, telling them there was nothing wrong with the food and that the difference was only their perception.

Thomas said her sister ate very little and the remaining food was packed. She paid Rs 740 for the meal using a debit card.

Thomas alleged that she began experiencing vomiting and severe stomach pain while travelling home. Her condition later worsened, with dizziness, continued vomiting and weakness.

She initially sought treatment at a hospital in Vechoochira. As her symptoms persisted, she was admitted to another hospital in Kanjirappally, where she remained for about a week.

According to her complaint, doctors diagnosed her with a Salmonella infection and told her that it was linked to consumption of undercooked or stale food.

Thomas's son later contacted the cafe operators and informed them about her condition. He alleged that the response was rude and that the operators offered Rs 6,000 towards the matter. The offer was rejected.

The consumer commission issued notices to both the proprietor and manager. While the proprietor appeared before the commission, the manager did not appear despite receiving the notice.

After examining the complainant, the opposite party and the documents submitted in the case, the commission found that the allegations against the cafe operators had been substantiated.

The panel also relied on the hospital discharge summary submitted by the complainant while assessing the case. The commission noted that the manager’s failure to participate in the proceedings, despite having received notice, further supported the complainant’s case.

The commission awarded Rs 36,500 for hospital expenses, Rs 50,000 as compensation for the hardship suffered and Rs 10,000 towards litigation expenses, taking the total amount payable to Rs 96,500.

The order was issued by commission president Babychan Vechoochira and member Nishad Thankappan.

With PTI inputs