Committee to recommend Cinema Ticket Rates

Cinemas – Constitution of Committee to study and recommend the classification of cinema theatres and rates of admission into various classes of cinema theatres etc.– Orders – Issued.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ORDER:

In the reference second read above, Government have enhanced the rates of admission to Higher Classes in Cinema Theatres in Municipal Corporation and other locations based on the recommendation of the High Power Empowered Committee constituted in the reference first read above.  Aggrieved with the orders issued in the reference second read above, several Writ Petitions have been filed and Government have filed the Counter Affidavits.

           

2.         The Hon’ble High Court of A.P. in its Common Order Dt:25.09.2012 in W.P. Nos. 20656, 20658 and 20661 of  2011 and 3785 of 2012 has quashed G.O.Ms.No.181, Home (General. A) Department, Dt:11.07.2011, on the ground that the impugned G.O. is discriminatory and rates fixed therein are not based on any reasonable clarification and  offends the rights enshrined under Article 14 of Constitution of India, with the following further directions to the Government:

(1). The 1^st respondent-Government is directed to constitute a fresh committee within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of this order, with the Chief Secretary as Chairperson, with such other members as deemed fit and proper, for the purpose of suggesting the factors to be considered while fixing the rates of admission into various classes of cinema theatres.

(2).  The proposed committee be requested to submit its recommendations within a period of two months, with regard to classification of theatres and for fixation of rates of admission into different classes in such theatres.

(3).   On receipt of recommendations of the Committee, the 1^st respondent-Government shall issue necessary orders with such classification and such rates of admission, based on the recommendations made by the committee, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of recommendations of the committee.

(4).   Till appropriate fresh orders are issued fixing the rates by making reasonable classification the rates, which are notified in the impugned G.O., shall continue to operate.

3.         In pursuance to the orders of Hon’ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh in the reference third read above, Government  hereby constitute the following Committee with the following Members:-

1. Chief Secretary to Government                              Chairman

2. Principal Secretary to Govt. (Revenue-CT)           Member

3. Principal Secretary to Govt. (MA&UD)                 Member  

4. Principal Secretary to Govt. (Finance)                       Member

5. Commissioner & Ex-Officio Secretary (I&PR)      Member

6. Principal Secretary to Govt. (IT)                            Member

7. Special Chief Secretary  to Govt.(Home)               Member-Convener

     (Passports, Fire and Cinematography)

4.         The above Committee shall submit its recommendations accordingly at the earliest, as well as on the factors to be considered and the rates to be charged by service providers for on line ticketing.

5.         The Special Chief Secretary Home shall obtain reports or elicit views from such concerned officers, experts and stakeholders as may be deemed necessary to enable the committee to take a considered view on all aspects concerned.