Overview
- India’s consumer watchdog issued an advisory Wednesday telling eateries not to add default line items such as “LPG charges,” “gas surcharge,” or “fuel cost recovery.”
- The authority classified these add‑ons as an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and invoked its Section 10 powers to direct compliance.
- Menu prices must reflect the full cost of food, with only applicable taxes allowed, because input costs like LPG, fuel, and electricity must be built into listed prices.
- Consumers can ask for the fee to be removed and file complaints via the National Consumer Helpline at 1915 or its app, the e‑Jagriti portal, the District Collector, or directly to the CCPA.
- The advisory follows reports of rising commercial LPG costs linked to West Asia tensions and viral bills such as a Bengaluru “gas crisis charge,” with the CCPA warning it is monitoring compliance nationwide and will act on violations.