The Karnataka High Court has stayed the State government’s order that sought to fix a ceiling of Rs.200 on cinema ticket prices across Karnataka. The interim relief came yesterday from Justice Ravi V Hosmani while hearing a petition filed by the Multiplex Association of India (MAI) along with several other theatre operators and cinema stakeholders.

According to a PTI report, the petitioners, represented by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, argued that the government had no legal authority to impose a uniform price cap. Rohatgi questioned the rationale behind arbitrarily fixing Rs.200 as the maximum rate, pointing out that consumers who wish to pay more for premium facilities cannot be restricted by such a blanket rule. He reminded the court that a similar order introduced by the state in 2017 had also been suspended and later withdrawn.

Rohatgi contended that the Karnataka Cinemas (Regulation) Act does not empower the state to regulate ticket pricing and that such a restriction strikes at the core of cinema owners’ right to conduct business.

“There cannot be a direction that every ticket should cost Rs.200, just as there cannot be an order that all airlines must operate in economy class,” he argued.

Defending the move, Additional Advocate General Ismail Zabiulla submitted that the amendment was introduced in public interest, referring to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Budget speech delivered on March 7. He said the power of the State to regulate theatres and entertainment activities flows from Entry 33 of List II in the Constitution, which grants states authority over cinema halls.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce sought to intervene in the matter, but the court observed that the case was not a public interest litigation and the body would first have to establish its locus standi.

The High Court’s interim stay on the government order will remain in force until further orders, effectively allowing cinema halls and multiplexes to continue with their existing ticket pricing structure for now.