The Madras High Court on October 29 directed the Commissioner of Police Chennai to pass within 4 weeks appropriate orders on an application for a licence to PVR Cinemas to start operations in the multiplex at Grand Mall, Velachery.
The Grand Mall has five screens.
This could mean that the multiplex might be able to open its doors to the public very soon.
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The order by Justice N. Kirubakaran came after PVR Limited filed a writ petition claiming that the Commissioner of Police (Chennai) had not decided on its application for a licence even after two years.
The petition further states that “though the ‘No Objection’ certificates obtained from all authorities concerned have been submitted by the petitioner and the necessary clarifications and documents have been furnished, no action has been taken on the application.”
The order also directs Superintending Engineer of Public Works Department (Planning and Designs Circle) to forward ‘Form O’ to the Police Commissioner within 2 weeks based on which it asks the Commissioner of Police to ‘consider and pass appropriate orders’.
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The development is likely to indicate a legal route for two other properties waiting for a similar licence – SPI Cinemas’ Palazzo (9 screens including an IMAX) at Forum Vijaya Mall, and a multiplex owned by AGS (4 screens) on G.N. Chetty Road.
When contacted, the spokesperson for PVR Cinemas did not want to comment.
The AGS Group said that it was waiting for its final clearance and hopes to open its doors to public by end of this year. Kalpathi S. Suresh, director, AGS Cinemas Pvt Limited, said, “The clearance process was slow because it requires multiple approvals from multiple government departments.”
Single window clearance
He suggested that the government have a “Single Window Clearance” for exhibitors as it can save five to six months of waiting.
( With inputs from Sangeetha Kandavel )