Delhi woman to get Rs 2 crore as compensation for bad hair cut
New Delhi : The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has ordered a luxury hotel chain in Delhi to compensate a woman with Rs 2 crore after the court observing that "she lost her expected assignments and suffered a huge loss which completely changed her lifestyle and shattered her dream to be a top model."
A bench of President RK Agrawal and Member Dr SM Kantikar has asked the hotel ITC Maurya to pay the said compensation of to the woman.
"For the aforesaid discussion, the complaint is allowed partly and we are of the considered view that it would meet the end of justice in case the Complainant is granted compensation of Rs 2,00,00,000," the consumer court said.
"There is no doubt that the women are very cautious and careful with regard to their hair. They spend a handsome amount on keeping the hair in good condition. They are also emotionally attached to their hair. The Complainant was a model for hair products because of her long hair. She has done modelling for VLCC and Pantene," the NCDRC said.
"But due to haircutting against her instructions, by the opposite party no.2 (hotel salon), she lost her expected assignments and suffered a huge loss which completely changed her lifestyle and shattered her dream to be a top model. She was also working as a senior management professional and earning a decent income. She underwent severe mental breakdown and trauma due to negligence of the opposite party no.2 in cutting her hair and could not concrete her job and finally, she lost her job," the NCDRC said.
According to the complaint, the model was scheduled for an interview. On April 12, 2018, a week before the interview, she paid a visit to the salon. She asked for a hairdresser, who used to cut her hair on various visits to the salon.
"But since the particular hairdresser was not available in the salon, another hairdresser was told to do the hairstyling of the complainant in her place. Though the complainant was not satisfied with her services in the past but on the assurance of the manager of the salon that she had improved her work, the Complainant agreed to have hairstyling from her."
What went wrong?
It has been said that the model had asked the hairdresser for long flicks or layers covering her face in the front and at the back and 4-inch straight hair trim from the bottom. However, the hairdresser did totally opposite leaving only 4 inches from the top and barely touching her shoulders for which she was not instructed by her. The model soon raised a complaint with the manager of the salon.
On April 13, 2018, amid no action, she spoke with the General Manager of the salon. The model alleged that he misbehaved with her stating that she was free to take any action against the salon.
Ultimately, the complainant approached the management and apprised them of the incident but in vain. Feeling aggrieved, the complainant has filed the complaint alleging deficiency in service on the part of opposite parties and seeking a written apology from the hotel management as well as compensation for harassment, humiliation and mental trauma.
