Scuffle erupts between family and restaurant staff in Noida over service charges; Video inside

A scuffle erupted between a family and restaurant staff at Spectrum Mall in Noida Sector-75 over service charges, resulting in a video of the incident gaining traction on social media. The viral footage depicts a group of individuals who were dining and the restaurant staff engaging in a physical altercation. The scuffle led to the injury of several women. Both parties involved have filed counter FIRs at the Sector-113 police station, addressing the incident.


"A woman resident of Sector-51 along with 12 members of her family had gone to have dinner at Duty Free restaurant in Sector-75. After having dinner here, a bill of about Rs 12,000 was handed in which Rs 970 was levied as service charges. Heated argument ensued over levying of service charges and in a few minutes, the people from both sides started beating each other," IANS quoted Deputy Commissioner of Police Noida, Harish Chander as saying.


Police said, "The people who came to eat the food had received discount coupons from Amazon. On receipt of the bill, when these people showed Amazon coupons and insisted on not paying service charge, the restaurant management said that it is not possible to give discount and waive off service charge at the same time. The heated argument started on this only."

Service charge
Meanwhile, the "service charge" you pay at a restaurant may sound deceptively like something the government wants from you, but it's actually a charge that stays with the restaurant and you can't be forced to pay it.

As per government guidelines, service charges are voluntary in nature and it cannot be levied automatically or by default.

“No collection of service charge shall be done by any other name. No hotel or restaurant shall force a consumer to pay service charge and shall clearly inform the consumer that service charge is voluntary, optional and at consumer’s discretion," CCPA has said in its order.

Inputs from IANS