NEW DELHI: The apex consumer forum has imposed an exemplary cost of Rs 1.56 lakh on a Gujarat-based hotel for charging customers Rs 5.5 above the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of a soft drink.

The National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC) imposed the cost reiterating earlier judicial rulings barring hotels and eateries from charging above the MRP.

The ruling came on a petition filed by a Bharuch-based hotel Nyay Mandir, which challenged the Gujarat State Commission's order to pay Rs 6,000 as compensation to complainant Ishwar Lal Jinabhai Desai, who had approached the forum for having been charged Rs 18 for beverage 'Miranda', despite its MRP being only Rs 12.50.

Asking the hotel to pay Rs 6,000 to the complainant, the forum ordered the hotel to pay an additional Rs 1.50 lakh to the consumer welfare fund.

The hotel opposed Desai's plea contending that it took the additional amount as service charges for various facilities accorded to its customers.

Not impressed by the hotel's contentions, the NCDRC refused to set aside the state forum award and directed it to comply with the same within two months.

"The petitioner is directed to comply with the State Commission's order within two months from the date of receipt of the order. The revision petition is accordingly dismissed," the Commission bench of members B N P Singh and S K Naik said.