Mon, September 21 (MExN): The Deputy Commissioner of Mon district, Wennyei Konyak, NCS, has directed all hotels, restaurants and business establishments in the district to strictly comply with the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) guidelines on the levy of service charge, an official notification said.
As per the directions, establishments shall not add service charge automatically or by default to the bill, nor collect it under any other name such as staff welfare charge, service fee, hospitality charge or any similar charge.
Consumers shall not be compelled to pay service charge, as the payment is voluntary and at their discretion, and no restriction shall be imposed on entry or provision of services on account of a consumer's decision not to pay the charge, the notification stated.
It further directed that service charge shall not be added to the bill for the purpose of levying GST on the total amount.
All concerned establishments have been directed to ensure strict and immediate compliance with the above directions, the notification said.
The Assistant Controller, Legal Metrology and Consumer Protection, Mon, shall undertake necessary monitoring and inspection and report instances of non-compliance for appropriate action, it added.
