Mon May 19 05:20:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text:

**Bhopal Restaurant Ordered to Pay ₹8,000 Over ₹1 GST Charge on Water Bottle**

**Bhopal:** A Bhopal restaurant has been ordered to pay ₹8,000 to a customer after being found guilty of overcharging for a bottle of water. The Consumer Forum ruled that the restaurant illegally levied ₹1 as GST on a water bottle in addition to the Maximum Retail Price (MRP).

The incident dates back to October 2021, when Aishwarya visited the restaurant with friends. Her bill showed the water bottle priced at ₹29, despite the MRP being ₹20. This included ₹1 for GST. When she questioned the charge, restaurant staff insisted it was valid and non-negotiable.

Aishwarya took the matter to the Consumer Forum. Her lawyer, Prateek Pawar, stated that his client objected to being charged ₹29 for a water bottle, and was informed the extra charge was for GST.

The restaurant’s lawyer argued that they were entitled to charge above the MRP due to amenities like seating, air conditioning, and on-table service. However, the Consumer Forum rejected this argument, stating that GST is already included in the MRP of bottled water and levying it separately constitutes a deficiency in service.

The Forum ordered the restaurant to refund the ₹1 GST charge. Furthermore, the restaurant must pay ₹5,000 in compensation for the mental distress caused to the customer, and ₹3,000 to cover the legal costs of the case. Thus, a single rupee of GST has resulted in a penalty of ₹8,000 for the restaurant.

Read More