In a landmark verdict against violations of consumer rights at multiplexes and cinemas, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum in Vijayawada ordered multiplex managements to allow packaged water, soft drinks and food brought by movie-goers outside into cinemas. The State’s Controller of Legal Metrology was asked to enforce the orders.
The Forum Bench comprising president Ravipalli Madhava Rao and members B. Srinivasu and R. Seetharamamma on Thursday imposed a combined fine of ₹5 lakh each in five cases payable to Consumers Welfare Fund on three different packaged drinking water and soft drinks companies for practising “dual MRP” (sale of the same product for varied MRPs in different markets).
The Bench was delivering a combined verdict in five similar complaints registered by five activists and city’s Consumer Guidance Society in May 2017 against dual MRP.
The three respondents were ordered to pay a combined fine of ₹5,000 to the complainant, and the multiplex was asked to return ₹130 with an interest of 9% to the complainant who was charged more because of dual MRP.
Mr. Rao wrote the verdict in Telugu for the first time in the history of the consumer forum.
The Bench asked multiplexes to sell all products at the same or slightly enhanced price as in the open market respecting the “right to choose" of the consumer, besides widely offering free drinking water on the premises.
Mr. Madhava Rao asked the Controller, Legal Metrology, who was also a respondent in the cases, to enforce the orders at all multiplexes in the State.
He gave two months’ time for all the respondents including beverages companies, multiplexes and Legal Metrology department to implement all the orders.
