The Karnataka High Court has issued an interim order staying the state government’s controversial new regulation that capped cinema ticket prices at ₹200 (excluding GST) across all theaters and multiplexes.
On September 23, Justice Ravi V. Hosmani delivered this decision following a series of petitions filed by prominent organizations including the Multiplex Association of India, along with film production houses like Hombale Films, Keystone Entertainment, and VK Films.
The petitioners strongly argued that the State Government lacks the legal authority under the Karnataka Cinema (Regulation) Act of 1964 to dictate or restrict ticket pricing for cinema exhibitions. They asserted that the Act’s primary purpose is to oversee the licensing of movie theaters, not to control pricing structures.
A key point of contention was the recent amendment to the Karnataka Cinema (Regulation) Rules, which came into effect on September 12. This amendment mandated the ₹200 price cap, with the only exception being multiple-screen cinemas offering premium facilities with 75 seats or less.
The petitioners further highlighted that a similar attempt to impose ticket price limits was made in 2017 through a Government Order. However, that order was ultimately withdrawn after sustained challenges from cinema houses and other stakeholders who questioned its legal validity.