NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Delhi government has asked all hotels and restaurants to display a board stating that ‘service charge is voluntary.’
Recently, the excise department of Delhi government has issued instructions to put placards, boards etc at the entrance or any other prominent place which can be noticed by every customer entering into the restaurant and hotel. This step has been taken after the Consumer Affairs Ministry made it clear that service charge on a food bill was not compulsory.
“We have been receiving complaints from various sources that restaurants situated in Khan Market, Connaught place, Saket etc have put boards claiming that service charge will be added in bill. It is an optional thing and no one can impose it forcefully,” a senior government official said.
The department of excise, entertainment and luxury tax has issued instructions to hotels and restaurants in the city to display at the appropriate place in their premises that service charges are discretionary and voluntary. "If a customer, who is dissatisfied with the services or don’t want to pay service charge, he/she can ask to waive it off," official added.