BENGALURU: Charging Rs 4 extra on Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of a cold drink bottle in the name of cooling charges cost dear to a Bakery shop owner. Consumer forum asked the proprietor of Manjusri Bakery and Sweets to cough up Rs 2,500 for selling the cold drink bottle at a higher rate to Mahesh B Kedar, owner of a software firm EMS Web Tech Private Limited in city. The fine slapped on the shopkeeper included Rs 2,000 compensation and Rs 500 litigation cost.
The 1st Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum comprising president Syed Anser Khaleem and members Bharati B Vibhute and H Janardhan passed an order in this regard recently. “The customers need not pay extra charges as the law mandates that no one can rich at the cost of others,” the forum stated. According to order, Mahesh, a resident of T Dasarahalli, had consumed 200 ml 7UP soft drink worth Rs 10 from Manjusri Bakery and Sweets on May 11, 2014.
However, the bakery owner demanded Rs 14, saying that he was levying Rs 4 extra for cooling and electricity charges. Accordingly, Mahesh paid. But the bill was issued for only Rs 12. Later, Mahesh issued legal notice to the Customer Service Manager,Pepsico India Private Limited, the first respondent. In its reply, Pepsi said that it is not within its knowledge if the bakery owner charged Rs 4 extra.
“It has dutifully carried out its duty of printing the MRP on the bottle and its duty ends there,” the company claimed. Hence the charges against it were dropped by forum. The proprietor of the bakery, who denied the allegations, contended that Mahesh never visited the bakery and he falsely created the bill. Turning down the contentions of the bakery owner, the forum said: “It is worth to note that any soft drink is required to be served chilled only. Demanding extra amount other than the MRP attracts deficiency in service and unfair trade practice.”