Telangana High Court Upholds 90-Day Advance Notice Rule for Cinema Ticket Price Hikes
The Telangana High Court has declined to interfere with an interim order that mandates a 90-day advance notice period for any increase in movie ticket prices within the state. This significant ruling came from a division bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G M Mohiuddin, who heard an appeal against the interim directions issued earlier.
Court's Rationale and Observations
The division bench emphasized that the interim order had not adversely affected the release of the Chiranjeevi-starrer film 'Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu', which was at the center of the controversy. In their detailed observation, the court stated:
"It appears that the interim order has not affected the release of the subject movie so far as the appellant is concerned. Therefore, we do not find any reason to entertain this appeal against the interim order."
The bench further granted liberty to all parties involved to raise their concerns in the ongoing writ petition, urging the writ court to expedite the hearing process once pleadings are complete.
Background of the Legal Dispute
The case originated from a memo issued by the Telangana home department on January 8, 2026, which permitted a price hike for the aforementioned film scheduled for release on January 12. This memo was challenged by advocate Dachepally Chandra Babu, who argued that such sudden increases violate the public's right to file reviews or representations under Section 7A of the Telangana Cinemas Regulation Act 1955.
On January 20, Justice N V Shravan Kumar issued the interim order, directing the state to notify any ticket price hikes at least 90 days before a movie's release date. This provision aims to ensure that stakeholders, including audiences, have adequate time to review and contest such decisions.
Appellant's Arguments and Court's Response
The producers of the film, M/s Shine Screens India LLP, appealed against the interim order, presenting several key arguments:
- The writ court should not have granted such broad relief without considering the petitioner's standing as an interested party for all upcoming films.
- The 90-day rule would unfairly impact the financial necessity of fee hikes for future productions.
However, the division bench recorded these submissions but maintained that the interim order had not actually hindered the film's release. The bench reiterated that all issues could be thoroughly addressed in the main writ petition, leading to the disposal of the appeal without any modification to the interim order.
Implications for the Film Industry and Public
This ruling underscores the judiciary's commitment to transparency and public participation in regulatory decisions affecting entertainment costs. By upholding the 90-day notice requirement, the court aims to balance the financial interests of film producers with the rights of moviegoers to contest price increases.
The case highlights the ongoing tension between economic necessities in film production and consumer protection measures, setting a precedent for how similar disputes may be handled in the future. As the writ petition proceeds, stakeholders across the film industry and the public will closely monitor developments that could reshape ticket pricing policies in Telangana.
