With the recent buzz around LPG shortages, there’s another detail quietly slipping into focus, and it’s showing up right on your restaurant bill.Those extra lines that say “LPG charges” or “fuel cost”? Turns out, the government has now stepped in.The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued an advisory, pointing out that adding such charges by default may count as an unfair trade practice.
So, what’s going on?
According to the authority, some hotels and restaurants have been adding extra costs like “LPG charges,” “gas surcharge,” or “fuel cost recovery” on top of the bill.Here’s the key point. Expenses like fuel, gas, electricity, and other running costs are part of the business.
These are supposed to be already included in the menu price.When they show up separately on your bill, especially without any option to refuse, it creates confusion and ends up increasing what you pay.
What the government is saying
The message from the CCPA is clear:Restaurants and hotels cannot automatically add “LPG charges” or similar feesThe price mentioned on the menu should reflect what you’re paying (apart from taxes)Customers cannot be forced to pay anything extra unless it’s voluntaryThe authority has also pointed out that simply changing the name of the charge doesn’t make it acceptable.
If it’s added by default, it can still be considered a violation under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
What can you do?
If you notice something like this on your bill, you’re not stuck with it.You can ask the restaurant to remove the charge. If needed, you can also raise the issue by calling 1915 or using the National Consumer Helpline app.There’s also the option to file a complaint through the e-Jagriti portal or approach the District Collector or the CCPA.For now, the authority says it is keeping a close watch on the situation, and any violations could lead to action.Thumb image: Canva (for representative purposes only)
