HC notice to Pondy govt for not giving ent tax exemption to

The Madras High Court has issued a notice to the Puducherry government on a petition seeking quashing of an order not granting exemption to Vijay starrer Tamil movie 'Bairava' from entertainment tax.
Justice K Kalyanasundaram, before whom the petition filed by film distributor G R Durairaj of M/s Aariya movies came up, issued notice to the Secretary, Department of Local Administration and the Commissioner-cum-Entertainment officer, Oulgaret Municipality, Puducherry, returnable by four weeks.
The film, produced by Vijaya Productions, was exempted from entertainment tax in Tamil Nadu after the selection committee decided that 'Bairava' was a Tamil title.
However, the Puducherry government rejected the grant of exemption from payment of entertainment tax for the film within the Union Territory, the petitioner contended.

The screening Committee of the Union Territory failed to note that 'Bairava' is a Tamil Name and is a manifestation of Lord Shiva, the petitioner submitted.
The petitioner said they had complied with all requirements of a government order which stated that Tamil films bearing Tamil titles will be exempted from entertainment tax. But without assigning any reason, Puducherry authorities rejected the the claim for exemption from entertainment tax, the petitioner said.
The petitioner sought quashing of the February 8 order and a direction to authorities to grant exemption to the movie from entertainment tax.