Government Strikes Down Overcharging In Multiplexes, Airport Stores
The consumer affairs department made a breakthrough statement in its advisory to state governments, saying a single commodity, whether a product or a packaged item, cannot have two maximum retail prices (MRPs) concurrently. This includes bottled water, beverages, snack items, some of which are sold at higher prices than the MRP, particularly at multiplexes, malls, airports, railway stations and some bigger restaurants.
A senior department official from consumer affairs told the Times of India.
There is no dual MRP provision in the packaged commodity rules and hence state governments must ensure that no one sells packaged items at different prices within a region. In case of different MRPs, the lowest one will be treated as the actual price.
He explained that orders have been issued by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) that no one can sell bottled water at different MRPs, particularly at malls, cinema halls and airports. The consumer official also added that the states have been authorised to inspect, verify and take action.