KOCHI: The Legal Metrology Department (LMD) has registered criminal cases against the owners of seven restaurants, including star hotels, for charging high price for packaged potable water.
The hotels are located in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Idukki districts. Deputy Controller of LMD (Central Zone) R Rammohan told Express the packaged potable water normally costs `20 or `25, but the hoteliers were charging `30 to `55.
He said most of them were charging extra amount in the name of GST, which is a violation of the law as packaged bottles are exempted from GST, he said. He said as many 21 cases were registered within a year and the department was keeping high alert against such practices. “Many people are using GST as a tool to charge exorbitant price, which needs to be curbed,” he said.