State asked its take on food in movie halls

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has directed the state to submit its opinion on the petition filed with regards to allowing patrons to get outside food in cinema halls.

A division bench of justices R.M. Borde and Rajesh Ketkar was hearing the public interest litigation filed by Jainendra Baxi through advocate Aditya Pratap claiming that that there was no legal or statutory provision prohibiting cinema-goers from carrying personal food articles or water inside movie theatres. Mr Pratap also told the court that the Maharashtra Cinemas (Regulation) Rules prohibited hawking and selling eatables inside theatres and auditoriums.

On Thursday, the FICCI Multiplex Owners’ Association approached the court seeking that it be allowed to intervene in the case since the rights of the multiplex owners were being affected by the relief sought by the petitioner.

Following the submissions, the state government told the court that it was willing to consider the suggestions made by all parties and take a decision accordingly, and sought two weeks time for it. The court then directed the state to also consider the suggestions by the petitioner and get the opinions of other stakeholders too.