Eatery fined for overcharging water bottles

CHANDIGARH: District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has asked a leading restaurant to pay a compensation of Rs 12,000, including Rs 5,000 as cost of litigation to a complainant on account of deficiency in services. It also asked the restaurant owners to deposit Rs 15,000 in the consumer legal aid account. Jagvir Singh Kang was charged Rs 312 for two sealed water bottles. It has been alleged that the maximum retail price of each sealed water bottle was Rs 60 (inclusive of all taxes) which was sold by the opposite party for Rs 156. When confronted, Kang was informed that it included Rs 16.50 as VAT, Rs 12 as service charge and Rs 7.39 as service tax. He left the place only to file a case in the consumer court. The restaurant responded saying the water was consumed in the premises and hence the taxes applied.