The Telangana High Court, led by Justice B. Vijay Sen Reddy, retracted its previous directive that prohibited children under 16 from attending cinema screenings before 11am and after 11pm. This decision was made public on Saturday, reversing an earlier stance that had generated significant debate among stakeholders in the cinema industry.
The original orders, issued on January 24, stemmed from a petition by senior journalist Satish Kamal, who raised concerns following a tragic incident during a late-night premiere of the movie “Pushpa 2: The Rule.” A stampede at Sandhya Theatre during this event resulted in the death of a 35-year-old woman and left her nine-year-old son in a coma.
Responding to the outcry and the severe repercussions of the incident, the state government had initially halted benefit shows and special screenings during the early morning hours and had also abolished heightened ticket prices.
However, in a revised ruling seen by HT, Justice Reddy has removed the stipulation against late-night showings for children, citing the necessity to balance the interests of multiplex operators with regulatory intentions. The court emphasized the importance of allowing cinema operators to present their case in a fair manner.
Senior lawyer S. Niranjan Reddy, representing multiplex owners, argued that the previous high court order adversely affected the business of cinemas and noted that there are no existing statutory restrictions preventing children from attending movies after 11pm. He argued that the interim order was overreaching and not in the nature of the original petitions, which were not filed as public interest litigations.
Justice Reddy acknowledged the need to revisit the matter with comprehensive input from all affected parties. He scheduled further proceedings for March 17, inviting the government to contribute its perspective on the regulation of children’s attendance at cinemas during unconventional hours.
