LPG charges or gas charges on food bills fair or unfair? This is what governing authority says

The ongoing LPG crisis across the country has left hotels and restaurants in a difficult situation, making everyday business operations challenging. Amidst all this, many businesses have started adding LPG charges or Gas Charges to the final bill, which has shocked and confused consumers. After numerous consumers complained about inflated restaurant bills due to added LPG or gas charges, the government has finally taken note and released an official statement. Scroll down to read the details. Recently several diners at well-known restaurants voiced their concerns about the extra ‘LPG charges’ or ‘gas charges’ appearing on their final bills. After receiving numerous complaints, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) finally issued a press release dated March 25, 2026. The release stated that hey have taken serious note of hotels and restaurants levying additional charges such as “LPG charges,” “gas surcharge,” and “fuel cost recovery” on consumer bills. The CCPA said adding these additional fees for LPG gas constitutes unfair trade practices under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. According to the release, observing this recent practice, the Authority issued a fresh advisory under Section 10 of the Consumer Protection Act 2019 directing that no such charges shall be levied automatically, and warned that violations may invite strict action.It is reported that the CCPA analysed the situation based on grievances received on the National Consumer Helpline (NCH), and media reports, noting that certain hotels and restaurants are levying such charges by default on the consumer bill, over and above the price of food and beverages displayed on the menu and applicable taxes.The CCPA has clearly clarified that input costs such as fuel, LPG, and electricity, are part of the cost of running a business and must be factored into the pricing of menu items. Recovering such costs through separate mandatory charges constitutes an unfair trade practice under Section 2(47) of the Act.