Delhi's ITC Maurya Ordered To Pay Rs 2 Cr Compensation To Customer For Botching Up Her Haircut

A woman who alleged that a wrong haircut cost her the chance to become a top model has been awarded Rs 2 crore compensation by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC).

The woman, a Delhi native had in her complaint stated that a wrong haircut and treatment given to her by staff at a salon in Hotel ITC Maurya left her ¡°with little or almost no hair¡±.

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The complainant, a model for haircare products claimed that she had gone to the hotel¡¯s salon on April 18, 2018, for a haircut before an important interview.

She had asked the hairdresser for flicks in front and a 4-inch trim from the bottom, but the salon staff allegedly chopped off her long hair.

The woman, identified as Aashna Roy said that she wear spectacles, which were taken off for the haircut, and was also asked by the hairdresser to keep her head down, and hence she could not see herself clearly in the mirror and noticed her hair only after it was trimmed entirely.

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She complained about this to the management of the Salon, who in turn offered her a free hair treatment, which she claimed caused permanent damage due to excess ammonia, which resulted in excessive irritation in her scalp.

Aashna alleged that despite her complaint against the staff, the management took no action and even misbehaved with her.

She then approached the NCDRC seeking a written apology from the management as well as compensation of Rs 3 crore for harassment, humiliation, and mental trauma.

"Stopped seeking herself in the mirror"

Aashna, who was also working as a management professional said that she stopped seeking herself in the mirror, avoided social activities, lost her self-confidence due to little hair and also suffered a loss of income due to a mental breakdown and left her job.

However, the counsel appearing for the hotel chain, submitted that the entire hair of the complainant was not chopped off, they were cut as per her request, and that during the hair treatment no harm was caused to her scalp with the excess ammonia.

The NCDRC, however, took into account the WhatsApp Chat between the complainant and the salon in which they had admitted the fault on their part and by offering the free hair treatment tried to cover it.

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On Tuesday, the NCDRC bench of RK Agrawal and Member Dr SM Kantikar awarded compensation after noting that women are no doubt cautious about their hair, spend a handsome amount on keeping them in good condition, and are emotionally attached to them.

¡°She was also working as a Senior Management Professional and earning a decent income. She underwent severe mental breakdown and trauma due to negligence in cutting her hair and could not concrete her job and finally, she lost her job,¡± the bench said.

Apart from this, the hotel is also guilty of medical negligence in hair treatment, the commission said, adding that her scalp was burnt and there is still allergy and itching due to the fault of the staff.