Madras High Court: In a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking the issuance of a Writ of Mandamus to direct respondents 1 to 14 to take appropriate action against cinema theatre owners in Chennai and across Tamil Nadu for collecting excessive ticket charges during the initial four days of screening new movies such as “Vivegam”, and to curb such unfair practices of charging more than the rates fixed by the Government, as well as to ensure the refund of the excess amount collected from the public, a Single Judge Brench of N. Anand Venkatesh,J. directed the Committee constituted by the Government to initiate appropriate action against theatre owners who overcharge customers for movie tickets in violation of the rates fixed by the Government. The Court further instructed the Committee to ensure that any excess amount collected by the theatres is refunded to the affected customers.
The respondents submitted that the authorities are continuously monitoring the ticket charges collected by cinema theatres. It was further submitted that a committee has already been constituted for this purpose, which conducts joint inspections of theatres and recommends appropriate action whenever violations are detected. In support of this submission, the counter affidavit filed by the respondent 14 was brought to the notice of this Court.
The Court observed that when the Government has fixed ticket rates, which are revised from time to time, the theatre owners are not permitted to exploit moviegoers by charging amounts in excess of the prescribed rates. Therefore, whenever such practices are adopted by theatres, especially following the release of a new film, the Committee constituted by the Government shall take appropriate steps to initiate action against the theatre owner concerned and ensure the refund of any excess amount collected. The Committee was also directed to act promptly upon any complaints received in this regard.
[G.Devarajan v. Special Tahsildar, W.P.No.22844 of 2017, decided on 09-06-2025]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For Petitioner: Mr.G.Devarajan
For Respondents : Mr.E.Vijay Anand , Additional Government Pleader
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