By Piyush M Padwale
The Karnataka government has made amendments to the Karnataka Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 2014, and capped down movie ticket prices at ₹200 for screenings in all languages and all theatres including multiplexes. However, exemptions exist for boutique/premium theatres with a seating capacity of 75 or fewer. These cinemas can continue with the pricing they currently have.
The government says this decision has been made keeping public interest in mind, with an aim to make cinema accessible and affordable to all, further arguing that theatres and entertainment fall under the State List (Entry 33, List II of the constitution), which gives the state power to regulate such matters.
On the other hand, it has caused a lot of unrest in the Multiplex Association of India, some film production companies, and a shareholder of PVR Inox, who have filed petitions arguing that this cap is arbitrary, baseless, and goes beyond the parent rule’s scope (which deals with ticket booths, not price setting).
They also claim that it violates the fundamental right to carry on business under Article 19(1)(g), and that it ignores the differences in costs and investments between ordinary cinemas and more sophisticated/ luxury formats like IMAX and other premium screens.
As of now, a notification implementing the amendment has been issued. The rule is to come into force once published in the Official Gazette. The Karnataka High Court has reserved its order on a plea seeking a temporary halt on the rule.
Observers note that the High Court could either uphold the ₹200 cap as a public interest move, strike it down as arbitrary or beyond its legal scope, pause until the case is settled, or call for revisions like higher caps for premium formats.