Implement Cinema Act 1975: HC directs Govt

Jammu:  The cinema lovers of the state are soon going to have a gala time ahead as the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the state government to implement the Jammu and Kashmir Cinema (Regulations) Act 1975 in view of bringing uniformity in the rates charged by the cinema owners besides following the rules.

In a Public Interest Litigation filed by the Advocates Sudharth Anand and Bhavishya Sudan, practising in Jammu and Kashmir High Court, the High Court has issued directives to the Cinema owners to implement Jammu and Kashmir Cinema (Regulations) Act 1975 at the earliest in the interest of the society.

“It is a historic decision and will provide relief to the cinema lovers especially a common man,” Advocate Aditya Sharma here told UNI.

The advocate said that the theater owners have made their monopoly of charging from the customers as per their self-styled grade of the Cinemas, adding, “notices were previously issued to all the cinema owners on behalf of the petitioners by the Court and they also appeared before the Court.”

He said that the Division Bench comprising Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice Sanjay Gupta of Jammu and Kashmir High Court has directed the Cinema Owners to strictly follow to the rule in stipulated time frame otherwise it will be treated as “contempt of the court”.

As per rules of the Act, there must be uniformity in the rates of the tickets and school goers particularly those who are below the age of 18 years, should not be allowed to enter the theater during the school hours.

“There are so many other rules and guidelines mentioned in the Act, which are hardly followed by the Cinema owners,” he said and added that the respondents (Cinema owners) were told to soon implement and follow the rules in toto.

“PIL is always in the interest of the society and people and once it gets implemented, it will bring relief to the commoners as purchasing tickets @ Rs 300, Rs 500 and Rs 900 is not possible for everyone,” said the Advocate.

“The most important part is school going children as they usually bunk their classes and go to theaters but this Act prevents them from visiting such places during school hours vis-à-vis will not allow them to enter the theaters showing ‘A’ rated films, which is the need of the hour,” Vivek Sharma, another lawyer said.

He said that children are future of the country and if instead of wasting their time in theaters, they utilise it in building their career, a healthy nation can be developed.
Advocate Aditya Sharma further added that PIL also suggested for allowing the visitors to carry eatables

and water bottles inside the theatre so that they do not have to purchase these items at exorbitant rates inside the Cinema Theatres. (UNI)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.