The Telangana High Court has banned the early morning and late night entry of children below 16 years of age into theaters and multiplexes.
The single-judge Bench of Justice B Vijaysen Reddy directed the State of Telangana to consult all stakeholders and issue instructions on the matter.
The High Court further ordered that till a decision was taken by the state, children below 16 years of age would not be allowed to enter theaters and multiplexes before 11 am and after 11 pm. It then listed the matter for further hearing on February 22.
Justice Reddy passed the directions on petitions challenging the increase in ticket prices for movies Pushpa-2 and Game Changer.
The petitions further sought safety measures at multiplexes to prevent stampedes as well as a ban on allowing any movie exhibition after 1:30 am and before 8:40 am.
It was submitted before the High Court on January 24 that children should not be permitted to watch movies during late hours, as it would have an adverse impact on their physical and mental health.
Appearing for the petitioners, Advocate Vijay Gopal submitted that the last show in multiplexes run until 1:30 am and there were no restrictions on the entry of minors into theatres for late night shows.
The Counsel further said the government should have taken a prompt decision for regulating entry of minors in theatres, more particularly, in view of the unfortunate stampede incident during the benefit show of ‘Pushpa – 2’ in Sandhya Theatre, which lead to grievous injuries to a minor boy and death of his mother.
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