Outside Food In Multiplexes: SC Stays Proceedings Before Bombay & Madhya Pradesh HCs, To Hear All HC Cases Together [Read Order]

The Supreme Court is all set to hear petitions and PILs before high courts in the country regarding outside food for cinemagoers in multiplexes together.

On Friday, the division bench of Justice Rohinton F. Nariman and Justice Indu Malhotra stayed proceedings before the Bombay High Court and Madhya Pradesh High Court in petitions seeking regulation of exorbitant prices at multiplexes.

The apex court was hearing a transfer petition filed by the Multiplex Association of India. This is the second time proceedings in this matter have been stayed, as the Supreme Court had previously stayed a judgment by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court allowing moviegoers to carry their own food and water inside multiplexes.

While the Bombay High Court had said that cinemagoers cannot be compelled to buy food and other items at exorbitant prices, the Maharashtra government had taken a U-turn from its earlier stand taken in the Assembly and filed an affidavit stating that they do not intend to change provisions of Maharashtra Cinema (Regulation) Rules, 1966.

On the other hand, an advocate had filed a petition before the principal bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court at Jabalpur seeking directions to the state government for bringing in a policy to regulate prices of food items. A similar petition was filed before the Indore bench also.

Recently a similar petition has been filed before the Delhi High Court by a Delhi-based lawyer.

Senior advocates A.M. Singhvi and Mukul Rohatgi appeared on behalf of the petitioner association.