HC directs formation of special team to check theatre fares

The Madras High Court today directed Tamil Nadu government to constitute a special team to monitor the aspects of the collection of excess fares by cinema theatres.
Disposing of a PIL, a bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M M Sundresh, also ordered that the public should be informed through proper publicity (about excess fares), a methodology of giving such complaints telephonically to facilitate information to flow to the team.
Petitioner G Devarajan submitted that he was charged Rs 200 for a first class ticket at a theatre, which was a clear violation of the Government Order dated May 20, 2009 which fixed the maximum rate at Rs 120.

Though he had already made a complaint to the Commercial Taxes department in this regard in November, 2015, no action had been taken on it.
The theatre owners without any fear for law were collecting charges excessively for new movies, causing loss to the government treasury.
He prayed to the court to direct the authorities to take action against the theatre owners.