Zomato Delivery Agent Moves Telangana High Court Against 'Arbitrary' Blocking Of Worker ID; Notice Issued

The Telangana High Court has issued notice on a Zomato delivery agent's plea challenging the "unjust" and "arbitrary" blocking of his worker ID by the food delivery company citing behavioural issues. 

Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka issued notice to the State government and Zomato on the plea which also seeks a direction to the state government to frame fair and transparent grievance redressal mechanism for gig/platform workers/delivery partners in the State.

The plea also seeks reinstatement of the petitioner's worker ID, to allow him to continue work as before, and to provide him compensation of Rs. 50,000 for putting him to severe harassment and trauma. 

The petitioner claims to be his family's sole breadwinner, shouldering responsibility of two dependent sisters. He has said that his average monthly income is about Rs. 15,000 by working as a delivery agent for Zomato. He states that on 7-11-2024, without any warning, explanation, or prior notice, the Zomato blocked his ID citing a vague allegation of “behavioural issue”.

The petitioner claims that this action was taken unilaterally and arbitrarily, depriving him of his means of livelihood. He was neither informed about the nature of the alleged behavioural misconduct nor provided with an opportunity to contest or clarify the same. The petitioner submits that not only he but his dependant family has suffered hardship after his ID was blocked and he is in acute financial distress.

He claims that all-throughout his association with Zomato he maintained a high performance rating of 4.8/5. Despite this and without any justification or show cause, he was branded unfit, "jeopardizing his reputation and future prospects". When he reached out to the respondent for redressal, he was bluntly told by the officials that: “Aapki ID block hain, koi rishtha nahi hain” (“Your ID is blocked, there is no relationship between you and Zomato”).

The petitioner has said that he raised a grievance in a stakeholders' meeting at the Telangana Secretariat, wherein the Joint Commissioner issued two formal notices to Zomato calling upon the management to attend a joint meeting with the Petitioner and to submit remarks along with relevant records. However, the management neither filed a reply nor appeared before the Labour Commissioner, showing complete disregard for the statutory machinery of the State.

The petitioner has said that the code on Social Security, 2020 provides legal recognition and social security benefits to the petitioner as gig and platform workers. The Code on Social Security, 2020, passed by Parliament defines 'gig workers' and 'platform workers' and provides measures for their social security which includes benefits such as life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, and old age protection.

The matter will be taken up on December 08.

Case title: Mohd Khaleel Ahmed Baag v/s State of Telangana and Others

WP 36194 of 2025