Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has said that the Government has approved the guidelines on service charges. Paswan said that as per guidelines service charge is completely voluntary and not mandatory now. Paswan further informed that the hotels/restaurants should not decide how much service charge is to be paid by the customer and it should be left at the customer’s discretion. Guidelines are being sent to states to take necessary steps at their end.