Despite the Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan announcing that bottled water will be sold at the same maximum retail price (MRP) across all platforms, activists say that almost all the malls in Hyderabad has been practicing dual MRP.
Vijay had earlier filed a complaint against INOX multiplex for overcharging for water bottle.
Recently, the Hyderabad Consumer Forum has asked INOX multiplex to pay up Rs 5,000, along with another Rs 1,000 to an activist, and reportedly said that there cannot be two MRPs for the same water bottle.
Shortage of staff in state consumer forum The president of the Telangana State Consumer Organisation has said that the main reason these issues still persist is because of shortage of staff in the Telangana State Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum and Legal Metrology department.
He says that after the bifurcation, the state government has not yet appointed district consumer forum presidents and members in the state.
“Out of the 12 consumer forums, there are only two presidents (judge).
For the past two years the Civil Supplies department has been saying that they will fill up the vacancy, but nothing has been done," he added.
I filed the case on Inox almost a nine months back,” Vijay says.
According to the Telangana State Consumer Organisation, which fights for the rights of consumers, over 4700 cases are still pending for judgement, out of which 60% of the cases have been pending for more than four years.
However, several cases have been pending for years.

Pepsi to sell bottled water at same MRP across India: Paswan.
Food Ministry’s push for the same maximum retail price (MRP) for packed food and beverages has led to Pepsi promising to sell its mineral water at one rate across the country.
Paswan said action can be taken under the law for having dual MRP on any product and consumer courts are already taking action.
“Dual MRP is against the law.
Pepsi has said that it will sell ‘Acquafina’ mineral water at one price or MRP across the country.
BCCI has also directed that all bottled water will be sold at MRP in its cricket stadiums,” he told reporters here.
The BCCI secretary has also issued a circular that bottled water will not be sold at price higher than the MRP, he said, adding that the ministry has started getting success after its effort against “dual MRP”.
Last month, the Consumer Affairs Department had sought explanation from companies selling packaged mineral water for having different MRPs of bottles for various places.
It had directed that the sale price should be same at airports, hotels and malls.
“Mineral water bottle will be available at the same rate at airports, hotels and malls,” Paswan had tweeted.