Overview
- Authorities said investigations found restaurants adding a 10% service charge by default, which constitutes an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
- Penalties reached up to Rs 50,000, with orders to refund collected amounts and reconfigure billing systems so any service charge remains voluntary.
- In Patna, Café Blue Bottle was directed to reimburse the consumer, stop the practice immediately, and pay a Rs 30,000 fine.
- In Mumbai, China Gate (Bora Bora) refunded during the hearing and was ordered to modify its software and pay Rs 50,000.
- The enforcement follows CCPA’s 2022 guidelines later upheld by the Delhi High Court in 2025, and the authority says it will keep monitoring complaints and pursuing violators.