Explorer

Service charge not mandatory, says Ram Vilas Paswan; Government issues guidelines

New Delhi: On Friday, the government approved new guidelines giving consumers the right to decide service charge they wish to voluntarily pay on a hotel or restaurant bill. The guidelines will be sent to states for necessary action, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said. The guidelines have made service charge totally voluntary and not mandatory. If implemented, the norms will provide relief to customers who have to pay service charge up to 20 per cent on food bills in lieu of tips. "The government has approved guidelines on service charge. As per the guidelines, service charge is totally voluntary and not mandatory now," the minister tweeted. "Hotels and restaurants should not decide how much service charge is to be paid by the customer and it should be left to the discretion of the customer," he added. "Guidelines are being sent to states for necessary action at their end," Ram Vilas Paswan said in another tweet.   Before making the final payment. as per the guidelines, the column of service charge in a bill will be left blank for customers to fill up. "If there is mandatory levy of service charge, customers can file a complaint in the consumer court," a senior consumer affairs ministry official said, reported PTI.
View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headline

I.N.D.I.A Bloc In Bihar: Here's How Congress, RJD Have Decided To Share Seats After JD-U's Exit
I.N.D.I.A Bloc In Bihar: Here's How Congress, RJD Have Decided To Share Seats After JD-U's Exit
'BJP Should Pay Rs 4,600 Crore': Congress Slams Income Tax Dept, ECI After Getting Rs 1,700-Crore Notice
'BJP Should Pay Rs 4,600 Crore': Congress Slams Income Tax Dept, ECI After Getting Rs 1,700-Crore Notice
Another Blow To Congress As I-T Dept Serves Rs 1,700-Crore Notice Ahead Of Lok Sabha Elections: Report
Another Blow To Congress As I-T Dept Serves Rs 1,700-Crore Notice Ahead Of Lok Sabha Elections
Sunita Kejriwal Launches WhatsApp Campaign To Drum Up Support For Jailed Delhi CM
Sunita Kejriwal Launches WhatsApp Campaign To Drum Up Support For Jailed Delhi CM
Advertisement
for smartphones
and tablets

Videos

Mukhtar Ansari Death: Gangster's Passing and Graveyard Arrangements, watch ground report | ABP NewsABP SHIKHAR SAMMELAN 2024: 'People Might Ask To Reveal Who Voted For Whom Soon': Rajnath On Electoral BondsABP SHIKHAR SAMMELAN 2024: POK Will Always Remain An Integral Part Of India, Says Rajnath SinghABP Shikar Sammelan 2024: Rift between Akali Dal-BJP due to farmers issues? | Rajnath Singh

Photogallery

Embed widget