Maharashtra government mulling policy to regulate food prices in multiplexes

The Maharashtra Government on Wednesday informed the Bombay High court that it is considering formulating a policy to regulate prices of food being sold inside multiplexes.

A division bench of Justice Shantanu Kemkar and Justice MS Karnik, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Jainendra Baxi said, "We have experienced it ourselves, the prices of food items being sold inside theatres are exorbitant. If there is a complete ban on getting food from outside then why are vendors allowed inside?"

Government pleader Purnima Kantharia informed the court that suggestions from the petitioner and the Multiplex Association of India have been forwarded to the government and that both are under consideration. Soon, guidelines will be formulated and it will be applicable to all multiplexes. The court accordingly granted six weeks' time to the government to place on record its policy and file its reply to the petition. "The rates of food items have to be nominal," the court said.

The court was hearing the petition filed by Baxi through his lawyer Aditya Pratap. The plea claimed there was no legal or statutory provision prohibiting one from carrying personal food articles or water inside a movie theatre.

Further, he argued that the Maharashtra Cinemas (Regulation) Rules prohibits hawking and selling food inside theatres and auditoriums. "This rule is openly flouted by cinema halls with several stalls selling food and beverages. New theatres also have buttons right on the seats that enable viewers to call for a waiter, order food, and have the same delivered to the seats."