Centre to seek revision of SC ruling on bottled water MRP

New Delhi, Dec 23: The central government will move a review petition against the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that allowed hotels and restaurants to sell packaged drinking water over and above the maximum retail price (MRP).

Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs Ram Vilas Paswan said the government will seek a review of the apex’s court order as hotels, restaurants, multiplexes etc. do not come under non-commercial institutions and for them to sell bottled mineral water to consumers above the MRP will attract penalties under the Legal Metrology Act.
The Supreme Court ruling was made on a petition filed by the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) that challenged an earlier High Court order which upheld the government’s authority to initiate prosecution against restaurants and hotels for selling bottled mineral water above MRP under the 2009 Act.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has maintained that overcharging for pre-packed or pre-packaged products was an offence under the Legal Metrology Act and a punishable offence.
In a related issue, Mr. Paswan said the last date for manufacturers and dealers to display changed MRP rates (inclusive of GST taxes) on unsold stocks through stickers, has been extended to March 31.
Earlier December 31 was the last date. UNI