The centre will soon set up a robust framework to check service charge levied by restaurants and hotels. This aims to ensure strict compliance by the stakeholders regarding the levy of service charge, which affects the consumers adversely.

• The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) had held a meeting with all the concerned stakeholders on June 2nd to discuss the same issue. 
• The meeting was chaired by Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary, DoCA.
• During the meeting, major issues raised by the consumers on the National Consumer Helpline of DoCA relating to service charge were discussed. Further, guidelines on fair trade practices related to the charging of service were also referred to.

By: Brijesh Kumar