Restaurant Penalised for Forced Service Charge: CCPA Ordered Refund

In re Cafe Blue Bottle Patna’s (CCPA Delhi) Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) took suo motu cognizance of a consumer grievance registered on the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) on 8 April 2025 concerning the levy of a service charge in addition to CGST and SGST by a restaurant in Patna. The consumer supported the complaint with a bill dated 7 April 2025 showing the disputed charge. The CCPA noted that, by a judgment dated 28 March 2025, the Delhi High Court had upheld the validity and enforceability of the CCPA Guidelines on service charges and had categorically held that man...