It became very expensive for a restaurant to charge a customer Rs 55 for a water bottle worth Rs 20. In a similar case, Chandigarh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission i.e. SCDRC, in an important decision on December 9, 2025, has clarified that restaurants and hotels cannot sell pre-packed products – like mineral water and packaged drinking water – at a price higher than the Maximum Retail Price (MRP). The Commission said that all types of taxes, packaging expenses and seller’s profit are already included in MRP. According to the Economic Times, this decision is going to strengthen consumer rights and sends a strong message to those restaurants which charge arbitrary prices on packaged items.
Case of overcharging on water bottles
This matter is related to a customer complaint. On December 12, 2023, she had gone to a restaurant in Chandigarh for dinner at around 8:30 pm. His total bill amount was Rs 1,922, which included CGST and UTGST. The bill charged Rs 55 for a bottle of packaged drinking water, while the MRP mentioned on the bottle was only Rs 20. Shocked by this excess recovery, the customer lodged a complaint in the consumer forum.
State Commission gave justice
Earlier the District Consumer Commission had rejected his complaint. After this he filed an appeal in Chandigarh State Consumer Commission. The special thing was that the customer presented his case on his own without the help of any lawyer and ultimately won the case on 9 December 2025. Now the restaurant had to pay Rs 3000 as compensation.
The commission called the restaurant’s argument baseless
It was argued on behalf of the restaurant that due to better ambience, air conditioning, seating facilities and service, the price of water bottle was charged higher. However, the Commission completely rejected this argument. The Commission clarified that restaurants have the freedom to decide the price of their food items, but the sale of packaged products which are marked with MRP is strictly controlled under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.
Why did that customer win?
According to the State Consumer Commission (Case No: SC/AB/CP/2025/1534), the main question was whether the restaurant could charge more than the MRP for a water bottle. The Commission’s clear answer was no. The Commission said that the water bottle supplied to the consumer was a sealed, pre-packed item, clearly marked with MRP of Rs 20. In such a situation, charging more than the MRP is a violation of the law.
This decision further strengthens the rights of consumers and sends a clear message to restaurants and hotels across the country that charging more than the fixed MRP on packaged products is not acceptable under any circumstances, regardless of the rationale for service or ambiance.
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