India, March 26 -- The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on Wednesday warned of action against restaurants and hotels levying fees such as "LPG charges", "gas surcharge" and "fuel cost recovery" in consumer bills, terming any such additional billing heads as an unfair trade practice under the Consumer protection Act.

The consumer rights watchdog issued an advisory under section 10 of the Consumer Protection Act 2019, asking businesses to refrain from charging illegal levies, saying that violations would invite "strict action".

Any fuel-related charges may constitute an unfair trade practice under the Act, according to the advisory, consumer affairs secretary Nidhi Khare said, adding that surveillance had been stepped up acros...