Telangana HC questions last-minute ticket hike for ‘The Paradise’

Justice N V Shravan Kumar of the Telangana High Court on Tuesday questioned the State government’s decision to permit enhanced ticket prices for the upcoming Telugu film The Paradise, observing that the permission was issued just days before the film’s release and without recording reasons for the hike.

The Court was hearing a contempt petition challenging the government memo permitting enhanced ticket rates for The Paradise, scheduled for release on September 24. The memo also permitted a special show on September 23 at 6.30 p.m. with a ticket price of Rs 500, inclusive of GST,



besides enhanced rates at theatres between September 24 and October 3.

The petitioner contended that the Court had earlier directed the government to place any future decision to increase movie ticket prices in the public domain at least 90 days before a film’s release, enabling interested persons to avail themselves of the remedy available under Section 7-A of the Telangana Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1955.

The government, however, submitted that the petitioner could challenge the memo under Section 7-A of the Act and argued that the contempt proceedings were premature.