Ludhiana, Aug. 11 -- The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Ludhiana, has directed Cafe Elizabeth III to refund Rs.52.50 service charge levied on a customer's bill and pay Rs.10,000 as composite compensation and costs, holding that the levy amounted to an unfair trade practice.

The order was passed by commission president Sanjeev Batra and member Monika Bhagat on a complaint filed by Rishabh Gupta of Haibowal Kalan.

According to the complaint, Gupta visited the cafe with friends on January 24, 2026, and ordered a pizza and a can of Diet Coke. He alleged that the cafe subsequently added a 5% service charge of Rs.52.50 to his bill, besides GST, taking the total amount to Rs.1,155.

When Gupta objected to the charge, a cafe r...