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Informist, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025

 

NEW DELHI – The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday stayed the state government's regulation to cap film ticket prices at INR 200 till further orders while hearing a plea by Multiplex Association of India and others. Earlier this month, the state government announced the move after an amendment to the Karnataka Cinema (Control) Rules, 2014. The exception to the cap included 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 order was passed in 2017 by the Karnataka government, which was challenged before 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 (INR 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 Tanima Banerjee

 

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