Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has granted an interim stay on the enforcement of the Karnataka Cinemas (Regulation) (Amendment) Rules, 2025, which aimed to impose a uniform cap of ₹200 on movie ticket prices across the state. The order was passed on Tuesday by Justice Ravi V Hosmani while hearing a petition filed by the Multiplex Association of India along with several cinema exhibitors, who argued that the amendment lacked legal foundation and infringed upon their right to conduct business.
Appearing for the petitioners, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi contended that the state government had arbitrarily introduced a proviso to cap ticket prices without any rationale or empirical data. He questioned the logic behind fixing ₹200 as the upper limit, arguing that customers willing to pay more for enhanced viewing experiences should not be restricted. Rohatgi further noted that a similar move by the state in 2017 had been stayed by the High Court and subsequently withdrawn. He stressed that the parent legislation does not empower the state to regulate cinema ticket pricing and likened the situation to forcing all airlines to operate only in economy class—highlighting the impracticality of a one-size-fits-all approach.
Supporting the challenge, Senior Advocates Uday Holla and Dhyan Chinnappa pointed out that the amendment was introduced through a proviso to Rule 55, which deals with ticket booths and not pricing. Chinnappa emphasized that a proviso cannot be used to expand the scope of a main provision, arguing that this amounted to legislative overreach. Senior Advocate D R Ravishankar, representing another theatre operator, reinforced that pricing is a matter of private contract between exhibitors and consumers. He asserted that unless pricing regulation is clearly supported by statute and backed by data, it constitutes an unconstitutional restriction on the freedom to carry on business under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.
Defending the state’s action, Additional Advocate General Ismail Zabiulla argued that the amendment was introduced in the public interest, referencing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s March 7 Budget speech and a subsequent draft notification that drew objections from stakeholders. He claimed the state’s authority to regulate theatres and entertainment flows from Entry 33 of List II of the Constitution, which grants states the power to legislate on such matters.
The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) also sought to intervene in the matter, but the court made it clear that this was not a public interest litigation and asked the body to justify its locus standi before being allowed to participate. The High Court’s interim stay will remain in effect until further orders, providing temporary relief to cinema operators while the legal challenge proceeds.
This ruling is expected to have significant implications for the film exhibition industry, especially in the context of premium cinema formats and differentiated pricing models. While the government argues for affordability and uniform access, cinema owners maintain that price caps hinder innovation and investment in customer experience. The outcome of this case could set an important precedent for state-level regulation of entertainment sectors in India.
