A PIL filed in Kerala High Court challenges arbitrary movie ticket hikes by multiplexes. Court seeks government response; hearing set for July 1.
Kochi: Today, on June 10, the Kerala High Court has agreed to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that raises serious concerns about the high and fluctuating ticket prices charged by multiplex theatres in the State.
The PIL, filed by Advocate Manu Nair G, urges the court to direct the government to control the unchecked and excessive pricing of movie tickets by big cinema chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji admitted the PIL and instructed the government pleader to take instructions from the concerned authorities.
The matter will now be heard further on July 1.
In the petition, Manu Nair highlighted that multiplex operators were
“exploiting consumers through dynamic pricing models”.
These models increase ticket rates depending on
“factors such as time slots, demand and release status, particularly during the initial weeks of a film’s release”.
The plea argues that this is being done
“without any oversight from licensing authorities under the Kerala Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1958.”
The petitioner pointed out that theatres in Kerala function under the Kerala Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1958 and the Kerala Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1988.
These laws make it mandatory for cinema theatres to get licences and follow certain regulations meant to safeguard public interest.
However, there is no clause in either the Act or the Rules that gives permission to multiplexes to apply
“unrestricted dynamic pricing without approval from licensing authorities”,
as stated in the petition.
Manu Nair further alleged that
“in the absence of such oversight, multiplex theatres in Kerala—such as 8th respondent (PVR INOX), 9th respondent (Cinepolis) and such other multiplex theatres across Kerala have adopted a pricing regime that is not only opaque but also discriminatory and financially burdensome to the common public.”
He said that ordinary people are facing
“arbitrary price escalations without any justification or remedy.”
The PIL also made comparisons with other Indian states that have already taken steps to control this problem.
According to the petition,
“in contrast, several other Indian states have issued clear regulatory mechanisms to prevent such profiteering and protect public interest.”
States like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu have brought executive orders to put a cap on movie ticket prices.
The petition further stated that the Kerala government’s failure to introduce similar regulations amounts to a violation of Article 14 of the Indian Constitution (Right to Equality).
As per the petitioner,
“cinema viewers in other states were not subjected to such unregulated pricing”,
and therefore, the people of Kerala are being unfairly treated in comparison.
Case Title:
Manu Nair G v. State of Kerala & ors
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