No Mandatory Service Charge: Centre Fines Restaurants Across India

• Centre declares mandatory service charge on food bills violates consumer protection laws.
• CCPA takes action against 27 restaurants nationwide for 'unfair trade practices'.
• Violations cited under Section 2(47) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
• Café Blue Bottle fined Rs 30,000, China Gate penalized Rs 50,000 for levying service charge.
• Delhi High Court upheld CCPA guidelines: service charge is voluntary, cannot be subjected to GST.