Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Regulate ticket rates in cinemas: consumer body

Coimbatore: The Coimbatore Consumer Cause has asked the State Government to ensure that the rates of admission collected by cinemas were in compliance with Government orders.

In a memorandum, the consumer body secretary said that in the G.O. (Ms) No.1241 dated December 25, 2006, the Government had already cancelled the orders which allowed the licensee of cinemas to charge rates without ceiling. Otherwise, they were allowed to collect rates of admission for two weeks from the date of commencement of screening of a new film with due advance notice to the Licensing Authority and the Commercial Tax Authority. Now such a liberty stands curtailed.

Further the Government had fixed the minimum and maximum rates to be collected by the Licensees as under:

Air conditioned cinemas in Corporation limits: a minimum of Rs. 10 and a maximum of Rs. 50. Non air conditioned cinemas: a maximum of Rs. 30 and a minimum of Rs. 7.

In Municipalities, the minimum was Rs. 5 and maximum Rs. 40 for air conditioned cinemas while it was Rs. 4 and Rs. 30 in non-air conditioned cinemas. In town panchayats, the minimum and maximum rates were: air conditioned cinemas – Rs. 5 and Rs. 25; non-air conditioned cinemas: Rs. 4 and Rs. 20.

In village panchayats the rates of admission were: minimum Rs. 5 and maximum Rs. 15 in air conditioned cinemas and it was respectively Rs. 4 and Rs. 10 in non-air conditioned theatres.

It has come to the notice of the association that some of the cinemas are giving tokens to the people instead of issuing tickets thereby collecting exhorbitant rates. Such a practice need to be checked.

The Government had permitted cinemas to run five shows on account of Deepavali. There were occasions where a particular show was exhibited to a section of the people/organisation, which collected exorbitant rates from the public, in the name of donation.

Since there was no provision for such special/exclusive shows the administration should ensure that the tickets were sold only on the approved rates and through ticket counters.

Some of the cinemas switched off air condition units immediately after the show began.

Some buildings do not have proper drinking water facility and toilets were not properly maintained.

The canteens were selling products at a higher rates. Since the Government had granted a number of concessions, including the abolition of entertainment tax, the owners should ensure that facilities were provided for consumers. Frequent inspection of cinemas should be revived, the memorandum said.

Following complaints, the District Collector, Neeraj Mittal has ordered surprise checks in cinemas in the district by the respective Revenue Divisional Officers. The authorities have come across incidents of collection of excess admission fee by way of issuing tokens in Tirupur and Coimbatore.

Mr. Mittal has asked officials to initiate proceedings against these cinemas. Revenue authorities have been instructed to conduct surprise checks at cinemas where Deepavali releases are being screened.

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