Domino’s penalised for charging Rs 12 for carry bags

The district consumer disputes redressal forum has penalised Domino’s and has directed the
company to donate Rs 5 lakh to the poor patient welfare fund of the Post Graduate Institute of
Medical Education and Research. The forum has charged them guilty of “unfair trade practice”
in charging Rs 12 for a carry bag.

According to the reports, the complaint was registered by Jitender Bansal, a resident of Sector
27 in February on finding Rs 12 charged for the carry bag. The firm said that “since plastic bags
are banned and we use paper bags as an alternative and we charge the consumer for the
same.” Defending their statement, they added “we do not force anybody for a carry bag and
always ask the user if they need. The price of the bag is also mentioned on the menu and
pamphlet.”

However, the forum stated that there exists no rule that justifies charging extra money for the
bags. They said “it is highly absurd… Domino’s claims that it is not under a legal obligation to
provide a free carry bag, as it is not only odd but as very inconvenient for the consumer to carry
the food item without a carry bag.”

Concluding the debate, the consumer forum issued a fine of Rs 5 lakh to Domino’s and asked
them to reimburse Rs 12 along with Rs 1500 to the complainant as compensation for
harassment, mental agony and litigation.