Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 20: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking proper implementation of Jammu & Kashmir Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1975, Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Sanjay Kumar Gupta today issued several directions to the Government.
After hearing Advocate Aditya Sharma for the PIL whereas Senior AAG HA Siddiqui for the State and Advocates Raman Sharma and YE Tak for the respondents, DB directed Multiplexes/ Cinema Halls owners not to prohibit cinema goers/viewers henceforth from carrying his/her own food articles and water inside the theatre.
The State Legislature has enacted the Jammu & Kashmir Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1975, purpose whereof is to regulate the cinema trade or business in exhibiting the cinematograph in the theatre being run on the licence duly obtained from the licensing authority and a perusal of these Rules reveals that no where it has been provided that cinemagoers can be prohibited from carrying their own food articles and water bottles to multiplexes or private vendors are allowed to sell food inside such Multiplexes/Cinema hall premises at highly exorbitant prices, the DB said.
DB further directed Government as well as Licensing Authority/every District Magistrate in the State to ensure henceforth complete ban on polythene bags in the Multiplexes/Cinema Halls. Further, Multiplex/Cinema Hall owners were 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.
DB also directed Government as well as Licensing Authority/every District Magistrate in the State to ensure uniformity 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 Government was further 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”, the DB said.
Government and every District Magistrate were further directed to 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 directions, the State Government is directed to take appropriate action against such District Magistrate under rules”, the DB said.
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