Multiplex body moves HC against Karnataka's INR 200 cap on film ticket price
This story was originally published at 19:05 IST on 16 September 2025
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NEW DELHI – The Multiplex Association of India and others on Tuesday moved the Karnataka High Court against the Karnataka state government's regulation to cap film ticket prices at INR 200. After some arguments, the high court reserved its verdict on the interim relief sought by the petitioners to stay the state government's move.
Last week, the state government announced the move after an amendment to the Karnataka Cinema (Control) Rules, 2014. The exception to the cap includes multi-screen cinemas having 75 seats, with premium facilities.
Appearing for the multiplex body, advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued that there was no basis for fixing the price cap of INR 200 and the state government's action was completely arbitrary. "If a customer wants to pay more for more luxury, there is no reasoning why (paint) with a broad brush," said Rohatgi.
The counsel said that a similar government order was passed in 2017 by the state government, which was challenged before the court and the direction was suspended. "Once this was done, the government withdrew the order then. History is repeating itself now. Earlier, it was by way of GO (government order) and now amended by a rule," Rohatgi said. "We have spent huge sums of money on creating a cinema hall for a price. There can't be a direction that all your tickets should be at Rs 200, or all airlines should be economy class. There is no power under the Act to fix a price whatsoever," he added. End
Reported by Surya Tripathi
Edited by Avishek Dutta
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