Daijiworld Media Network- Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Mar 11: The Karnataka High Court on Monday observed that it cannot dictate how theatres should be run while hearing an appeal against a lower court’s order regarding prolonged advertisements before movie screenings.

A bench led by Justice M Nagaprasanna made this remark while hearing an appeal filed by the Multiplexes Association of India.

The court issued a notice to the state government and complainant Abhisheik M R, staying the Bengaluru District consumer commission's order, which had held PVR Cinemas liable to compensate a petitioner who objected to extended advertisements delaying movie screenings. The stay will remain in effect until the next hearing on March 27.

Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, representing the petitioner, argued that the matter is of national relevance. He contended that the Bengaluru District consumer commission lacked jurisdiction and claimed that "mischief-mongers" were already causing disruptions over the issue.

The complainant had purchased three tickets for the Hindi film Sam Bahadur, paying Rs 825.66. He stated that due to prolonged advertisements, he had to sit 25 minutes beyond the movie’s actual 2-hour-25-minute duration, which he considered an inconvenience that could not be compensated monetarily.

He alleged that delaying the film’s start time due to advertisements amounted to a deficiency in service by PVR Cinemas.

The consumer commission had cited government regulations permitting a maximum of 10 minutes for public service announcements and welfare scheme advertisements by state and central governments. It noted that theatres were obligated to start films at the scheduled time mentioned on tickets, with advertisements shown beforehand.

The commission had ordered PVR Cinemas and PVR Inox Ltd to compensate the petitioner Rs 20,000 for mental agony and Rs 8,000 as litigation expenses. Additionally, PVR Cinemas was directed to pay Rs 1 lac in punitive damages to the Consumer Welfare Fund.