Delhi HC stays guidelines banning service charges at restaurants
India Today
The Delhi High Court has put a stay on the Consumer Protection Guidelines that banned service charges at the restaurants. However, restaurants are still not allowed to put service charges on takeaways and deliveries.
The Delhi High Court has put a stay on the consumer protection guidelines banning service charges at restaurants. This decision came after the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) on Monday moved to the Delhi High court challenging the guidelines restraining the restaurant from charging service charges.
A notice was issued to the centre, the ministry of consumer affairs, and the central consumer protection authority and stated that customers would have to pay the additional service charge if they opt to eat at the restaurant.
Delhi HC justice Yashwant Varma said that consumers can choose not to eat at the restaurants and choose takeaway if they don't want to pay service charges.
However, restaurants will not charge service charges on takeaways or the home delivery option. Only those who are eating at the eatery or the restaurants will have to pay the service charges decided by the restaurants.
Meanwhile, the consumer protection authority has objected to this decision and said that consumers should not be forced to pay service charges.
