Hyderabad restaurant ordered to pay ₹25,000 for charging above MRP on bottled water
HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission-I has directed Amaravathi Restaurant in LB Nagar to pay ₹25,000 to a customer after finding that it charged more than the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for bottled water.
J.C. Jeevan Kumar, a resident of Kamalanagar in Rangareddy district, filed the complaint after visiting the restaurant with his family and friends for lunch on January 2, 2025.
According to the complaint, the restaurant charged ₹3 above the MRP for each of two bottled water purchases. When Kumar questioned the billing staff, they allegedly responded negligently and dismissively.
Customer approached Consumer Commission over excess billing
Kumar approached the Hyderabad District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission-I, alleging unfair billing and poor customer service. He argued that charging above the MRP amounted to an unfair trade practice.
After hearing the case, the Commission held that charging more than the MRP for bottled water and failing to address the customer’s grievance constituted deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice.
Compensation includes damages and litigation costs
The Commission directed Amaravathi Restaurant to pay ₹20,000 as compensation for the mental agony caused to the complainant and ₹5,000 towards litigation expenses, taking the total compensation to ₹25,000.
