Jammu: Putting full stop on rampant loot by the owners of cinema theatres in state, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court today directed the District Magistrates to strict implementation of Jammu and Kashmir Cinemas (Regulations) Rules, 1975 for uniformity in sale price of movie ticket.
in In Public Interest Litigation seeking a direction to the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, for ensuring proper implementation of Jammu & Kashmir Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1975 in its letter and spirit. They are further seeking a direction to respondents 3 to 6 herein prohibiting them from restraining the movie goers from taking outside eatables with them inside the Cinema Halls, required to be consumed during the time they see the feature film in the cinema halls.
Acting on the PIL, the Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Sanjay Kumar Gupta after hearing advocate Aditya Sharma for the PIL whereas Sr. AAG HA Siddiqui appearing for the state directed Government of J&K as well as Licensing Authority/every District Magistrate in the State is directed to ensure proper uniformity be maintained with respect to the sale price of tickets in all the cinemas of the State in terms of Rule 87(i) & (ii) of the Jammu & Kashmir Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1975.
The bench also directed multiplexes/cinema halls owners of the State of J&K not to prohibit cinema goers/viewers henceforth from carrying his/her own food articles and water inside the theatre.
Further, the DB directed Government of J&K as well as Licensing Authority/every District Magistrate in the State is directed to ensure henceforth complete ban of polythene bags in the Multiplexes/Cinema Halls. Further, Multiplex/Cinema Hall owners are also directed to erect sign boards at conspicuous places requesting the cinema viewers not to litter waste food articles, bottles etc. in the multiplexes/Cinema Halls.
It also directed government of J&K as well as Licensing Authority/every District Magistrate in the State is directed to ensure proper compliance of Rule 88 (iv). They are also directed to ensure strict compliance of Rule 88(ix), which provides that no person between the age of 5 years to 18 years shall be admitted to any show commencing before 3.00 PM except on Sunday or any notified holiday by the Government of J&K.
DB further directed government as well as every DM in the state is directed to see and ensure that these directions are complied with forthwith in its true letter and spirit and in case of any breach of these directions on the part of any Multiplex/Cinema Halls owners, take stern action against them and even revoke the license of such Multiplex/Cinema Hall owners. If, henceforth, any District Magistrate fails to comply with the aforesaid directions, the state government is directed to take appropriate action against such DM under rules.