New Delhi: The Supreme Court has voiced strong concerns over exorbitant pricing in multiplexes, cautioning that persistent high charges for tickets and refreshments could render cinema halls deserted, while granting interim relief to operators by staying a Karnataka High Court directive on maintaining detailed buyer records.
During a hearing on November 3 before Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, the bench criticised multiplexes for levying Rs 100 for a water bottle and up to Rs 700 for coffee, emphasising the need for regulatory oversight to make cinema accessible. “This should be fixed… Otherwise, the halls are empty,” the court observed, prima facie endorsing the High Court’s view that ticket prices should be capped at Rs 200.
The dispute originated from Karnataka’s 2025 amendment capping tickets at Rs 200 (though some reports cite Rs 100), challenged by the Multiplex Association of India. A single-judge bench stayed the cap on September 23, but a division bench on September 30 imposed conditions, including auditable records of every sale — date, time, payment mode, and GST — to facilitate potential refunds.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing multiplexes, deemed the recordkeeping impractical, noting most bookings occur online without ID requirements. The Supreme Court stayed this directive, issuing notices for responses within four weeks and allowing the single-judge proceedings to continue.
This intervention highlights balancing consumer affordability with industry viability amid declining single-screen theatres.