The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has initiated suo motu action against forty one restaurants for levying service charge by default, based on complaints received through the National Consumer Helpline. In a social media post, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi said that the CCPA has imposed penalties on violators, taken action against restaurants violating consumer protection law and directed them to discontinue the automatic levy of service charge. The Minister added that service charge is voluntary and entirely at the consumer’s discretion. Mr Joshi emphasized that consumers can report such violations through the National Consumer Helpline 1915.