You may be shelling out more for a bottled potable water in a cinema hall than on a roadside shop. But, charging more beyond maximum retail prices (MRPs) for the same packaged product or selling these items at different MRPs in different places within a state is illegal, according to Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.
Maharashtra along with Karnataka have been the foremost states to have booked the highest number of cases for dual pricing of a packaged commodity in violation of these rules.
According to a data furnished by the government recently, 3,131 cases were booked for dual MRPs in Maharashtra, while around 2,538 cases registered in Rajasthan from 2013-14 to 2015-16.
These constituted around 21 per cent and 17 per cent of total complaints registered across the country under dual MRPs, respectively.
Under dual MRPs, a packaged commodity produced by a manufacturer is sold at different rates at different places which sometimes is even printed on the product.
For example, a one litre bottle of packaged mineral bottle might cost more in cinema halls, railway stations, malls, multiplexes, airports etc than on a roadside shop.
Sometimes, the manufactures themselves print different price for products sold in different places, while sometimes dealers do at their end.
In both cases, it ends up harming the interest of consumers as charging different MRPs for the same product at different places is prohibited under the rules.
The Centre in a letter issued in December 2016 had directed all state governments and union territories to stop the practice of dual MRPs for the same commodity within the same city, district or state.
The directive was issued after it got several complaints from consumer rights activities and others that many cinema halls, stadiums, multiplexes and other places within the same city, district and even state are charging dual MRPs for the same packaged food items in clear violation of Packaged Commodity Rules 2011 and Legal Metrology Act, 2009.
It was also found that in airports and movie halls, the same packaged food item like mineral water bottles, wafer and biscuit packets were being sold at a higher rate than outside.
The hotel owners gave the excuse that the packaged food item was being sold at a rate higher than the printed MRP because they provide additional services like air-conditioned sitting etc.
Thereafter, the Maharashtra government in a major state-wide crackdown booked a total of 134 establishments for violation of the Packaged Commodity Rules and also sent notices to five manufacturing companies asking them to reply within seven days explaining why different rates were charged for the same product.
Officials said in the raids and investigations it was found that many malls and multiplexes in and around Mumbai sold packaged aerated drinks and mineral water at a price which is almost 10-30 per cent more than the printed MRP.
The state government also issued a notice to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), directing it to instruct all its stadiums and sister associations to stop this practice during cricket matches particularly during the Indian Premier League (IPL).
BCCI subsequently complied with the directions. Officials said during the investigation by state agencies it was also revealed that many cinema halls do not allow outside eatables inside their premises, which forces the common man to purchase packaged food at a higher rate, particularly drinking water bottles.