The Centre reaffirmed that restaurants across India cannot levy mandatory service charges, calling it a violation of consumer protection laws. The Consumer Affairs Ministry and CCPA cited court-backed guidelines and ordered outlets like Barbeque Nation to stop unfair billing practices
The Central Consumer Protection Authority fined China Gate Restaurant Private Limited Rs 50,000 for adding service charges by default at its Bora Bora outlets in Mumbai. The CCPA held the practice illegal and ordered the restaurant to change its billing system and ensure proper consumer grievance redressal.
