| Hoteliers fleece customers; evade taxes, violate rules in Rajouri | | |  Ankit Kesar
Early Times Report
Rajouri, Jan 1: Hoteliers in this town are allegedly fleecing the guests and also evading taxes charged from the customers.
“Most of hotels in city are being run in violation of rules by the owners risking lives of their guests. Buildings are raised beyond maximum limits that too without mandatory no objection certificates (NOCs) from the vital departments like, Fire and Emergency Services”, said a shopkeeper of Rajouri city, adding that the management of many hotels even don’t give proper bills if a customer demand for it.
“Though Legal Metrology Department (LMD) is the agency to take action against this practice but the LMD takes action for only one offence, i.e. overcharging, but there are other offences being committed by the hoteliers, which falls under the jurisdiction of other departments i.e. Commercial Taxes Department in case of tax evading. If someone stays in a private hotel in Rajouri and demands for GST Bills, the staff refuse to do so”, said another shopkeeper, adding that a regular check by the concerned department is required to check this menace and improve the services being given to the customers, who pay adequately.
These shopkeepers said that due to control of multiple departments and shortage of staff some hoteliers are running a mafia, where the customers even cannot demand for proper bills.
R K Katoch Director Tourism when contacted said that the Tourism department has overall control on this industry. “We provide registration to a hotel and our job ends, overcharging from the customers comes under the control of the Legal Metrology Department”, he said. Mohammad Naseem concerned CTO when contacted said that action would be taken, if some found violating rules.
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