The Supreme Court on Monday put a temporary halt on a Karnataka High Court direction that required cinema multiplexes in the state to maintain auditable records of every ticket sold. The dispute arises from the state government’s attempt to cap movie ticket prices at ₹200, a move that has seen strong pushback from multiplex owners. The order came during a somewhat lively hearing where the bench spoke candidly about the rising cost of watching movies in theatres.
Background
Last month, a single judge bench of the Karnataka High Court had stayed the government rule that fixed the maximum ticket price at ₹200. However, on appeal, a division bench did not disturb the stay but imposed several conditions. These included maintaining detailed records of ticket buyers, keeping daily countersigned registers, and providing monthly reports to licensing authorities.
The Multiplex Association of India, along with several cinema operators, approached the Supreme Court, calling the conditions “unworkable” in today’s marketplace, where most bookings are done through third-party digital platforms like BookMyShow.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued that theatres no longer physically collect identity details. “The learned judges think tickets are being sold from counters. They are sold online. We don’t keep IDs. No one carries an ID to buy a movie ticket,” he said in the courtroom, sounding visibly exasperated.
Court’s Observations
Interestingly, the bench itself expressed concern about skyrocketing cinema prices. Justice Vikram Nath remarked during the hearing, “You charge ₹700 for a ticket, ₹100 for water… it should be fixed. As it is, cinema is declining. Make it reasonable so that people can come and enjoy.”
Rohatgi responded that moviegoers still have the choice to visit lower-cost theatres. But Justice Nath cut in with a realistic note, “There are no normal ones left.”
Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, representing another theatre group, pressed that the state lacked legal authority to fix prices in the first place. The State’s counsel, however, defended the High Court’s direction as a temporary safeguard: “If ultimately the State wins, the extra amount paid by customers can be returned. That’s all.”
The courtroom atmosphere at one point felt like a familiar public debate about movie-going culture-everyone knows ticket rates are steep, yet no one agrees on who is responsible or what a fair price looks like.
Decision
The bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta stayed the Karnataka High Court’s directions requiring multiplexes to maintain auditable records for now, noting that the matter needs fuller consideration. However, the Supreme Court allowed the single bench of the Karnataka High Court to continue hearing the core challenge regarding the legality of the government’s price cap rule.
The Supreme Court’s order ends here, without making any final decision on whether ticket prices will ultimately be capped at ₹200.
Case Title: Multiplex Association of India vs Karnataka State – Ticket Price Cap & Record Maintenance Dispute
