Food and Civil Supplies dept cautions hotels and restaurants against levying ‘LPG charges’

<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">GANGTOK, :</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif"> The State Food and Civil Supplies department has issued an advisory cautioning hotels and restaurants against levying additional charges such as “LPG charges”, “gas surcharge” or “fuel cost recovery” on consumers’ food bills.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">The department said it has received complaints and media reports alleging that some establishments are imposing such charges over and above the menu price and applicable taxes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">Reiterating guidelines issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), the advisory stated that input costs including fuel, LPG, electricity and other operational expenses must be factored into the pricing of menu items and should not be recovered separately from customers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">It said the imposition of such charges amounts to an “unfair trade practice” under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, citing lack of transparency and unjustified cost burden on consumers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">The department further added that levying these charges under different names is an attempt to bypass existing guidelines on service charges, which prohibit mandatory additional charges by default.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">According to the advisory, hotels and restaurants must ensure that menu prices are final, excluding only applicable taxes, and consumers should not be compelled to pay any non-voluntary or undisclosed charges.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">The department warned that non-compliance could attract action under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">The department has advised consumers who encounter such practices to request removal of the charges from the bill and, if necessary, lodge complaints with district control rooms, State consumer helpline or national consumer helpline.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">They may also approach the Consumer Commission or file complaints online through the e-Jagriti portal, or directly report the matter to the CCPA via email, the advisory added.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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