2 days ago
Excessive movie ticket pricing: Kerala HC seeks govt's views
Kochi: High court on Tuesday granted two weeks to the state govt to take a clear stand on a petition seeking judicial intervention to regulate alleged profiteering by multiplex operators through excessive ticket pricing.
The bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji adjourned the petition filed by Manu G Nair, a resident of Thiruvarppu in Kottayam, to July 15, and also directed the respondent multiplex theatres to file their affidavits in response to the petition.
In his petition, Nair alleged that cinema chains such as PVR, INOX, Cinepolis, Carnival Cinemas and others routinely inflate ticket prices based on factors such as demand, time slot and release status, resulting in exorbitant rates, particularly during the first week of screening.
He also noted that several Indian states have introduced legal mechanisms to cap cinema ticket prices and ensure affordability.
During the hearing, a senior advocate appearing on behalf of a multiplex theatre submitted that Kerala, too, has regulations governing ticket pricing. He pointed out that Form E under Rule 14 of the Kerala Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1988, stipulates that the maximum rates of admission for different classes in a licensed theatre shall not be increased during the currency of the licence without a written order from the licensing authority permitting such an increase.
He further argued that the petitioner had approached HC without first making any representation to the govt, despite the Rule itself providing an avenue for such a representation.
In response, the court orally asked the state govt to clarify whether it intended to intervene in the matter. HC then granted two weeks to file an affidavit.
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