Kerala cabinet sanctions bill to fix prices at all restaurants

The Kerala cabinet on Thursday has sanctioned a bill that allows district-level regulatory authorities to fix the prices of same food items in hotels and restaurants.

The Indian Express reports that if the Kerala Hotel (Food Price Regulation) Bill 2015 is enacted into a law, the state will have such regulatory boards in all districts, headed by a district judge or law officer of similar rank.

As per the bill star hotels and heritage hotels will be excluded from the authority of regulatory board. All other eateries will come under the regulatory board and the prices will be made equal. Hotels will be allowed to increase the prices of certain items only after the formal consent form the authorities. The bill will also empower authorities to fine the eateries which levy more charge without prior permission.

All such eateries will have to register with the regulatory authority, which will fix the prices of the food items and complaint regarding the new regulations will be dealt by the state food commission, not civil court.