Telangana High Court sets aside govt memo hiking ticket prices for Prabhas-starrer ‘The Raja Saab’

Advocate Vijay Gopal, representing the petitioner, submitted that authorities were routinely increasing the ticket fares whenever a big-budget movie was released, in violation of established norms.

Only last month, the high court had suspended a similar government memo issuing hiked ticket fares for N Balakrishna-starrer Akhanda 2. The court had then initiated contempt proceedings against the special chief secretary (home). This, however, was stayed by a division bench.

Why issue orders for each movie separately?

Justice Kumar observed that the government may better revisit the GO regulating ticket fares instead of issuing orders for each movie separately. He noted that a division bench had clearly laid down a rule, and it was binding on the state authorities. “It can be challenged only in the Supreme Court or reviewed, but issuing orders in this manner is nothing but a wilful violation and contempt of court orders,” the judge noted.

The bench also observed that while a minister had publicly ruled out any hike in ticket fares, officials had gone ahead with the order enhancing ticket fares in violation of the GO. “Is the officer issuing the memo unaware of the rules?” the bench questioned.

On their part, the producers of the movie, People Media Factory Private Limited, argued that it was a high-budget movie and over 1,000 workers benefited from it. Another party, BookMyShow, contended that they had already sold over 3 lakh tickets. Theatre owners also put forward similar arguments, saying any adverse orders would severely impact them. The court, however, refused to pay heed to these arguments and set aside the new memo.

The court maintained that it was only dealing with the legality of the matter and that issuing a memo was in violation of laid-down rules and the 2021 GO. Passing the directions, the bench adjourned the matter for further hearing.