The Telangana High Court has taken a strong stand against a controversial decision to hike movie ticket prices. Justice NV Shravan Kumar's bench initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against the Special Chief Secretary of the Home Department. This action follows the officer's permission for increased ticket rates for the latest Tollywood release starring Chiranjeevi and Nayantara.
Court Reacts to Repeated Violations
The court expressed serious concern over repeated violations of its previous orders regarding ticket pricing. During a hearing on a petition filed by advocate Dachepally Chandra Babu from LB Nagar, the bench noted that authorities had disregarded established rules. The petitioner's counsel, Vijay Gopal, presented compelling arguments against the illegal hike.
Questioning the Legality of Price Increases
Gopal challenged the legality of the memo that allowed movie makers to raise ticket prices. He specifically questioned the permission for single-screen theaters to charge an extra Rs 50 and multiplexes to add Rs 100 for seven days. The counsel argued this move directly violated high court orders and existing regulations. He urged the court to immediately suspend the controversial memo.
Senior IPS officer CV Anand currently holds the position of Special Chief Secretary (Home). The court's decision marks a significant development in the ongoing battle over entertainment pricing regulations. Earlier attempts to address the issue faced procedural delays when the court refused to take up a house motion on January 10.
Petitioner Persists Despite Setbacks
The court had initially directed the petitioner to return after the vacation period. Undeterred, advocate Chandra Babu filed a fresh petition to pursue the matter. His persistence has now resulted in the high court taking serious note of what appears to be systematic disregard for judicial directives regarding entertainment pricing controls.
This case highlights growing tensions between regulatory authorities and entertainment industry stakeholders over pricing autonomy. The court's decision to initiate contempt proceedings sends a clear message about enforcing compliance with established rules and judicial orders in the entertainment sector.
