The Supreme court has ruled that Cinema halls and multiplexes have the right to regulate movie goers from carrying food and beverages from outside.
The hearing bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha overruled an order from Jammu and Kashmir High Court that had removed the ban on people carrying their own food and water in theatres. The judges remarked at one point, "Should we start bringing jalebis to the movies?"
The supreme court judges also observed that the High Court may have overstepped its brief and insisted that cinemas have already been told to give free food and clean water to children. The audience can decide of they want to watch the movie or not, but they have to abide by the rules made by the authorities, they said.
"The cinema hall is not a gym where you need healthy food. It is a place of entertainment. A cinema hall is a private property. It is for the owner to decide the statutory rules. Saying that arms are not allowed or that no discrimination on basis of caste or gender can be there, is fine. But how can the High Court say that they can bring any food inside cinema halls?" the judges questioned.
The arguments during the hearing took a laughable turn when Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said "Suppose someone starts getting jalebis inside the cinema hall then the theatre's management can stop them. If the viewer wipes his sticky fingers on the seats, then who will pay for the cleaning? People can also bring tandoori chicken. Then there will be complaints of bones left in the hall. That could also bother people. No one is forcing them to buy popcorn".
Today's case goes back to July 18, 2018 when the Jammu and Kashmir High Court set aside a ban on food and drinks from outside in movie theatres. Because of the The ban had forced the audience to buy and consume from what is sold at the multiplexes, the High Court had said.
Report by Davinder Pal
Graphics by Sanskar Dubey
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