Relaxing Cinematograph rules;HC asks govt to decide PVR's plea

The Delhi High Court today asked the city government to decide within six months the representations of multiplex major PVR Ltd seeking relaxation in provisions of the 2008 Cinematograph Rules asking it to have dedicated projectionists for handling films.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw disposed of the plea seeking setting aside of those rules which provide for employing a dedicated projectionist for handling the films made of nitro cellulose saying it has become obsolete owing to advancements in the field of movie exhibition.
The court disposed of the plea asking the Delhi government to decide the representations of the firm within six months.

PVR Ltd had moved the court after its representations in 2013 and 2014 to the Delhi government and Additional Commissioner of Police (Licensing) had not been decided till date by the authorities, the plea said.
"In 2013, the petitioner made a representation to the Lt Governor detailing the technical advancement so made in the exhibition of motion pictures from the use of analogue projector system to the latest technology available, and further sought relaxation of (some) Rules under Cinematograph Rules 2008 as the concept of having a dedicated projectionist, who is trained in handling nitro cellulose film used in analogue projector has become obsolete," PVR's plea said.

This year, the movie theatre chain again sent a representation committing itself to the fire and safety measures in the multiplexes and had requested the authorities to relax the rules requiring a dedicated projectionist saying that such provisions are obsolete due to technological advancement in exhibition of movies.
It had alleged that despite its representations and personal visits by its officials, the authorities "failed to act" upon the same as well as did not appreciate its grievances.