Delhi court orders Swiggy, restaurant to pay compensation for misleading buffet pricing

A consumer court in Delhi has penalised Swiggy and a restaurant operator for misleading buffet pricing on the Dineout dining platform, ordering the two parties to jointly compensate a customer with ₹1 lakh.

The ruling highlights growing concerns about price transparency on food delivery and dining aggregator platforms operating across India. Consumers have increasingly raised complaints about discrepancies between advertised prices and actual charges at restaurants, particularly for buffet offerings where pricing structures can be opaque.

The court's decision underscores the responsibility of both digital platforms and restaurant partners in ensuring accurate price representation to consumers. Swiggy and the restaurant were found to have failed in this duty, leading to the joint liability imposed by the bench.

The case reflects a broader pattern of consumer grievances in India's rapidly expanding online food service sector. Regulatory bodies and consumer courts have been taking stricter positions on misleading practices, signalling that platforms and merchants must adhere to fair pricing standards and transparent information disclosure.

Experts note that such rulings may prompt platforms to strengthen verification mechanisms for restaurant listings and pricing data to avoid future disputes and regulatory action.