Boards to fix hotel food prices in Kerala

The Kerala cabinet has ratified a bill that envisages district-level regulatory authorities to fix the prices of food items in hotels.

When 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. Except hotels in star and heritage categories, all eateries will come under the regulatory board.

All such eateries will have to register with the regulatory authority, which will fix the prices of the food items. Hotels will be allowed to increase prices only after formal consent from the authority.

The authority will also have the power to fine eateries for overcharging. The decisions cannot be questioned in a civil court, but aggrieved parties can appeal with the state food commission.