If you watch a movie at a theatre and buy drinks and snacks at the price displayed, you can not claim that you have been overcharged. Neither can you get relief under the Consumer Protection Act.
In a case concerning PVR Spice in Noida, the UP State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission held that the complainant consumer was under a contractual obligation to accept the price and quantity of articles purchased as it was displayed at the cinema.
The company had not forced the complainant to buy the fountain Pepsi and popcorn from the food corner. The consumer willingly bought the said articles after seeing the menu.
Rajinder Dhar had filed a complaint at the Gautam Budh Nagar Consumer Forum after his son, Piyush, and his friend, had gone to see a movie at PVR Spice on June 14, 2006.
As they were not allowed to buy snacks outside, they had no choice but to buy it from the food counter. They were charged R45 for one glass of fountain Pepsi and R45 for one packet of popcorn. He had claimed the Pepsi was available outside at R20. The District Consumer Forum had given an order in favour of the complainant. Subsequently, PVR Spice filed an appeal against the order at the State Consumer Forum.
Mentioning a Supreme Court ruling, Spice stated that supply or service of eatables and drinks in hotels and restaurants does not amount to 'sale' in common legal parlance. Price charged for mineral water in excess of MRP printed in hotels and restaurants does not violate any legal provision to attract action under the Consumer Protection Act.
{{/usCountry}}Mentioning a Supreme Court ruling, Spice stated that supply or service of eatables and drinks in hotels and restaurants does not amount to 'sale' in common legal parlance. Price charged for mineral water in excess of MRP printed in hotels and restaurants does not violate any legal provision to attract action under the Consumer Protection Act.
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