Telangana HC questions last-minute ticket hike for ‘The Paradise’

The Telangana High Court questioned the government’s permission for enhanced ticket prices for The Paradise, noting that the September 20 memo did not record reasons for the hike and gave little time for interested persons to seek remedy

Hyderabad: Justice N V Shravan Kumar of the Telangana High Court on Tuesday questioned the State government’s decision to permit enhanced ticket prices for the upcoming Telugu film The Paradise, observing that the permission was issued just days before the film’s release and without recording reasons for the hike.

The Court was hearing a contempt petition challenging the government memo permitting enhanced ticket rates for The Paradise, scheduled for release on September 24. The memo also permitted a special show on September 23 at 6.30 p.m. with a ticket price of Rs 500, inclusive of GST, besides enhanced rates at theatres between September 24 and October 3.

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The petitioner contended that the Court had earlier directed the government to place any future decision to increase movie ticket prices in the public domain at least 90 days before a film’s release, enabling interested persons to avail themselves of the remedy available under Section 7-A of the Telangana Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1955.

The government, however, submitted that the petitioner could challenge the memo under Section 7-A of the Act and argued that the contempt proceedings were premature.

The petitioner argued that the government’s own guidelines required reasons to be recorded in writing for permitting an enhancement in ticket prices. It was contended that the memo merely referred to the relevant government order but did not disclose any reasons justifying the increase.

Justice Shravan Kumar observed that the impugned memo did not specify any reasons for the enhancement, as required under the relevant clauses of the government order.

The Court further noted that the memo was issued on September 20, while the enhanced prices were to take effect from September 23, leaving virtually no opportunity for interested persons to approach the authorities under Section 7-A of the Act.

The Court observed that the government ought to have placed the decision in the public domain sufficiently in advance instead of issuing the permission immediately before the film’s release. It also noted that a similar last-minute approach had been noticed in other pending matters concerning enhanced movie ticket prices.

Prima facie, the Court held that the government had violated its earlier directions regarding advance disclosure of decisions on ticket price hikes and that the impugned memo was bereft of reasons.

The Court left it open to the government to review the memo and consider withdrawing it.

The matter has been posted to October 6 for filing of the government’s counter-affidavit.