MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court today directed the Maharashtra government to file a reply to a PIL challenging the prohibition on carrying outside food into movie theaters and multiplexes across the state.
The court asked when security guards frisk the public entering cinema halls and check their bags, what was the need to keep all their food items and force them to purchase food from theatres.
A bench of Justices R M Borde and Rajesh Ketkar directed the state government to inform the court within three weeks, of the rationale behind such a prohibition that is currently imposed by most of the cinema theatres, and also whether it was in accordance with the law or not.
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the case was filed by city resident Jainendra Baxi through his lawyer Aditya Pratap.
The plea claimed there was no legal or statutory provision prohibiting one from carrying personal food articles or water inside movie theatres.
Pratap also told the court that the Maharashtra Cinemas (Regulation) Rules prohibit hawking and selling food inside theatres and auditoriums.
The restrictions on bringing outside food to theaters particularly affected senior citizens and those who cannot eat, for medical reasons, “the junk food sold at the food stalls inside theaters,” the petition read.
The HC bench also remarked that the primary concern of the security staff at theaters should be to frisk the public for any unauthorized or dangerous possessions.
