India, April 30 -- The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has taken suo moto action against five restaurants operating in the city for allegedly failing to refund service charges despite a recent judgment by the Delhi high court.

The authority has issued notices to Makhna Deli, Xero Courtyard, Castle Barbeque, Chaayos, and Fiesta by Barbeque Nation under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The action came following complaints on its consumer helpline portal, it said.

"It came to the notice of the CCPA, through complaints received on the National Consumer Helpline (1915), that grievances had been registered alleging that certain restaurants continued to impose a mandatory service charge without obtaining prior consent from consu...