Hyderabad’s Ohris Fined Rs 5000 For Levying Service Charge:- Hyderabad’s famous restaurant chain, The Ohri’s group of hotels were asked to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation for levying service charge on its customers.

The group was directed by the district consumer forum to not only pay the fine, but also to refund the amount collected from a customer as a service tax. One Customer, Vijay Gopal had visited the Ohris 100° hotel at Shilpakala Vedika where he was charged Rs 213 towards service tax.

The forum, based on the complaint filed by the customer, told the restaurant directors not to collect the service charge from customers in the future. The restaurant has no legal right to collect service tax at 10% of the bill, the forum stated. It also asked the hotel to leave the option of paying or not paying the tax to the customers.

The forum on hearing the arguments of the Ohri’s and the complainant asked the restaurant to pay Rs 5000 compensation. Besides the fine and refunding the money, the forum also asked the hotel to pay Rs 1000 for the complaint cost.

SUPRAJA