The State government on Thursday issued a notice to a famous hotel here following a complaint that it “fleeces” customers by overcharging even on products with maximum retail price (MRP).
Shafiq Ahmed Raina, Commissioner Secretary to Department Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs told that besides issuing a notice, the matter has been referred to legal metrology department.
“The hotel was fined previously also for overcharging. We have issued a notice to it as well as have forward the matter to the legal metrology department,” Raina said.
The government’s action follows a complaint by a person, alleging that hotel Vivanta Taj here “fleeces” customers.
He has appended with the complaint an invoice that the hotel charged Rs 180 for a water bottle with MRP of Rs 20. The invoice also shows that he has been made to pay whopping Rs 450 for one piece of ‘Rista’, Rs 425 for sweet corn soup, Rs 150 for ‘naan’, Rs 425 for cream of chicken soup, Rs 800 for fish Tawa Masala, Rs 725 for Tadka Wali Dal. “I along with my guests were shocked to see the charges,” the complainant said.
A number of tourists are learnt to have also complained about the overcharging by the hotel.
Minister Department Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali also assured action in the matter.
“We will look into the complaint and necessary action will be taken in the matter,” the minister said. While rate of Wazan and other eatables would be checked, no hotel or restaurant can overcharge on MRP, Zulfikar Ali asserted.
Across India, consumer courts have imposed fine on hotels and restaurant owners for asking consumers to pay more than MRP. Charging over the MRP has been held as against the Legal Metrology (packaged commodities) Rules. (GNS)