Can Govt Increase Film Ticket Prices? Andhra Pradesh High Court To Consider In Plea Filed Over Prabhas Starrer 'Kalki'
The Andhra Pradesh High Court is set to consider whether the State government has powers to hike the ticket prices of any film.
The question sprouted in a PIL challenging Andhra government's decision to increase the 'rate of admission' for film 'Kalki 2898 AD', which hit the theatres on June 27.
The plea challenges a clause in GO dated March 7 issued in exercise of powers under the Andhra Pradesh Cinemas (Regulations) Act, 1955, which states that government is authorized to fix the rate of entry for a super high budget film for the first 10 days.
The Prabhas-starrer is allegedly filmed on a budget of Rs 600 crore. The PIL objects to the fact that the government has chosen to fixate the price with respect to 'Kalki' for not 10 but 14 days.
It refers to Multiplex Association Of India vs. the State of AP (2022) wherein the cinema association had challenged GOMS on the grounds that it was not within the jurisdiction of the State to fix the rate of admission. The High Court had ruled in favour of the Multiplex Association holding that although the issue needed deeper consideration, prima facie, it seemed like amenities such as online booking could not be included while considering 'rate of admission' and that only the licensing authority was authorized to fix the rate, not the government.
Considering the pleadings, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Ninala Jayasurya noted that the larger picture that has surfaced is whether government is empowered to fix the admission rate. The Bench advised the petitioner to not fixate on the smaller issue in regards to only the movie Kalki.
Petitioner contended that people were unable to afford the cost of tickets and sought directions that the producer would return any extra money taken if the PIL was allowed.
“Don't worry about this. We will deal with all the issues. You are not against a movie, you are against the principle. You say why should there be an enhanced rate at all? Should there be power with the government to impose higher tickets for some movies? This requires some response from the other side, this issue of 10 days and 14 days is not too much, the Learned single judge has indicated that the Government might not have the power to fix the rate at all. This will have far-reaching consequences for movie theatres,” the Bench remarked orally.
Thus, notices were issued to the Centre, State and producer of the movie.
Case title: P. Rakesh Reddy v. UoI
Case no: WP(PIL) 120 of 2024
Counsel for petitioner: Gundala Siva Prasada Reddy