National Anti-profiteering Authority - is it effective in handling complaints of profiteering

National Anti-profiteering Authority - is it really effective in handling complaints of profiteering

 

An article titled "Restaurant Industry- Whether GST leading to Profiteering" was published in this blog on 8th August 2017, the url of which is

http://skvirmani-jagograhak.blogspot.in/2017/08/restaurant-industry-whether-gst-leading.html

The article was mailed to the National Anti-profiteering Authority as well as the same was also brought to their attention through social media of Local Circle Community. It seems no action has been taken as the Le-Chef Restaurant not only continuing the business of profiteering after implementation of GST but also now adapting to unethical business practices.

As analyzed in my article on 8th August 2017 in this blog, it was substantiated that the Restaurant in the name of GST, has increased the prices of various commodities as high as 39%. This increase in the prices despite reduction in the impact of the taxes, amounts to anti-profiteering in the name of implementation of GST w.e.f July 2017. Had the concerned authorities taken action under Anti-profiteering business, it would have stopped such practices. The latest experience encountered recently is being shared wherein the restaurant has not only increased the prices further but have also adapted to unethical business practices. 

The veg thaali was being sold at the price of Rs. 190/- with a discount of 15%, the net price being Rs. 161.50. The prices have now been increased to Rs. 201/- with a discount of 14.6%. The significance of 14.6% discount could not be understood.  Further, the Restaurant has supplied a gift saying it as Free Gift. Surprisingly, an amount of Rs. 10/- has been charged for this free gift. The term free gift has not been understood when it is charging an amount of Rs. 10/-. The free gift was a cup-shaped object displaying its name as "Le-Chef" with its contact number. It implied that it was for an advertisement of the restaurant. Charging of the amount for a free gift is not only misleading but also an unethical business practices. The same was informed to the restaurant manager in a telephonic conversation on 18th May 2018 wherein he was not able to convey as to why charging for free gift and also what compels to increase the price from Rs. 190/- to Rs. 201/-.

This article is being mailed to Le-Chef Restaurant as well as National Anti-Profiteering Authority