Model Sued 5-Star Hotel For Rs 2 Crore After 'Bad Haircut', Here's What SC Said After 7 Years

Last Updated:February 10, 2026, 14:46 IST

The model had claimed that the haircut adversely affected her appearance and confidence, leading to the loss of modelling and film assignments

A haircut at a five-star hotel in Delhi that turned into a prolonged legal battle has finally reached closure, with the Supreme Court reducing the compensation awarded to a model from Rs 2 crore to Rs 25 lakh. The case, which lasted nearly seven years, drew widespread attention after the complainant claimed that a poorly executed haircut at the ITC Maurya hotel salon damaged her professional image and cost her major career opportunities.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, the dispute dates back to April 12, 2018, when model Ashna Roy visited the salon at ITC Maurya for a haircut. She later alleged that the service was careless and not in line with her instructions. Roy claimed that the haircut adversely affected her appearance and confidence, leading to the loss of modelling and film assignments. Based on this, she sought substantial compensation, making the case a major point of debate in consumer courts.

Roy initially approached the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), which in September 2021 held the hotel guilty of deficiency in service and awarded her Rs 2 crore as compensation. The hotel challenged the order in the Supreme Court. In 2023, the apex court upheld the finding of poor service but sent the matter back to the commission to reconsider the quantum of compensation. During this phase, the complainant reportedly raised her claim to Rs 5.2 crore.

In its final ruling, the Supreme Court retained the finding that there was deficiency in service but significantly reduced the compensation amount to Rs 25 lakh. The court observed that the model had failed to provide solid and reliable evidence to prove that the haircut caused substantial career loss. It noted that many of the documents submitted were photocopies and lacked proper verification, while some materials were unrelated to the period directly linked to the incident.

The bench emphasised that large compensation claims must be supported by strong and credible proof, and cannot be based merely on assumptions or emotional distress. It also noted that the complainant had sufficient opportunity to authenticate documents and produce witnesses but did not adequately do so.

At the same time, the court did not completely absolve the hotel. It upheld the finding of deficiency in service, making it clear that while the salon was responsible for poor service, the extent of financial loss claimed by the complainant was not sufficiently established.

The judgment is being seen as significant for future consumer cases. The Supreme Court underlined that although the Civil Procedure Code does not strictly apply to consumer forums, basic principles of evidence cannot be ignored. Courts, it said, must carefully weigh facts and documentation before awarding large sums as compensation.

News india Model Sued 5-Star Hotel For Rs 2 Crore After 'Bad Haircut', Here's What SC Said After 7 Years

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