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A bench of the apex court said in an oral observation on Monday that exorbitant rates of tickets and food items at multiplexes could drive away audiences, leaving ‘halls empty’.
As per Live Law report, a bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta said that the rates should be fixed appropriately so that people come. The bench said, “Otherwise the cinema halls will be empty.”
These comments of the top court came while hearing the petitions Multiplex Association of India against Karnataka HC orderTo cap multiplex ticket prices at ₹200. The Supreme Court bench issued notice on the petitions and stayed the High Court order.
The division bench of Karnataka HC had directed multiplexes to maintain auditable records of every ticket sold, keep track of people purchasing tickets both online and offline, so that refunds can be made if the multiplexes lose the case.
The HC also ordered the multiplex to, among other things, regularly maintain audit reports verified by the CA.
Referring to the exorbitant rates, Justice Nath said, “You charge Rs 100 for water bottle. Rs 700 for coffee.
“Taj will charge ₹1000 for coffee, can you fix it? It’s a matter of choice,” said senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi, representing Multiplex Association of India.
To which Nath said, “It (rates) should be fixed. Cinema, as it is falling, makes it more reasonable for people to come and enjoy; otherwise, cinema halls will be empty.” Rohatgi further suggested visiting ‘common people’ instead of multiplexes and asked, “Why do you want to come here only?”
Justice Nath said, “There is no general left. We are with the division bench that it should be 200.”
Rohatgi further argued that the division bench’s conditions for movie ticket sales were impractical as it is difficult to track ID details of customers paying in cash.
He further added that it was also difficult to track the records as most of the tickets are booked online through online platforms like BookMyShow. He pointed out that people generally do not carry ID to buy tickets and the High Court direction assumes that tickets are sold at physical counters.
According to the state’s counsel, the conditions were imposed as an interim measure to ensure that if the state ultimately wins the case, customers who paid additional prices can receive a refund.
“If your Lordship is paying ₹ 1,000 today, and tomorrow the State wins, your Lordship will get back ₹ 800. That is what the Division Bench has ordered.”
The next hearing of the case was fixed for November 25.