The Shivamogga District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has slapped a fine on the online food delivery platform Zomato and a hotel owner for delivering a non-vegetarian burger instead of a vegetarian one, considering it a deficiency in service. Advocate Chand S. argued the case on behalf of the complainant.Nandish, a resident of J.P.N. Road in the city, had ordered a vegetarian burger through the Zomato app on August 27, 2025, the day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, paying ₹313.15. However, a non-vegetarian burger was delivered to him instead.When Mr. Nandish complained to the company, Zomato merely refunded the cost of the burger and did not take further responsibility. Mr. Nandish, through Mr. Chand, approached the District Consumer Forum, contending that the delivery of non-vegetarian food into his home on the sacred occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi had deeply hurt his religious sentiments.During the proceedings, Zomato argued that it was merely an online platform for taking orders and that customers placed orders directly with the hotel. “There is no lapse or deficiency of service on our part,” the company contended, seeking to distance itself from responsibility.After thoroughly examining the arguments and counter-arguments, along with the affidavits and documents presented by Mr. Chand on behalf of the complainant, the District Forum upheld the charge of deficiency of service against the company.A bench comprising forum president T. Shivanna and member B.D. Yogananda Bhandya recently ordered the respondents, Zomato and the owner of Five Star Hotel in Shivamogga, to pay a compensation of ₹10,000 to the complainant for mental agony and harassment and an additional ₹10,000 towards the legal proceedings. Published - July 17, 2026 08:11 pm IST