When you eat food in the restaurant, there is an extra charge in the bill called “service charge”. This is not a tax and it is completely on the customer's will. But many times restaurants add these charges to the bill without asking and the customer feels that it is necessary to give, whereas it is not so.
Five Famous Restaurants of Delhi – Makhna deli, xero courtyard, caste barbeque, chayos and Fiesta by Barbeque Nation – Carryed the service charge without customers' permission and refused when the customer asked for the money back. This is a violation of consumer rights. On this Central consumer protection authority (CCPA) Taking self -cognizance, notices have been sent to all the restaurants to return the money for service charge to their customers.
According to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, National Consumer Helpline (1915) But a lot of complaints were received that some restaurants are taking the service charge. Whereas The Delhi High Court made it clear on 28 March 2025 that taking a service charge depends on the customer's will.Not the restaurant. Even after this, when these restaurants did not accept the rules, the government had to send notices.
4 July 2022 According to CCPA guidelines issued to:
Service charge in restaurant bill Can not be added automatically,
Service charge cannot be added by any other name,
Customer It should be clearly stated that the service charge is optional,
No one can refuse to provide a restaurant service if the customer does not want to pay service charge,
GST should only be levied on food bills, not on service charge.
If you eat food in a restaurant and the service charge is seen in the bill, then you can clearly say that you will not give this. The restaurant will have to remove it. If they refuse, then you complain about it 1915 (Consumer Helpline) Can call on or else consumerhelpline.gov.in But online complaints can also be filed.
