Theatre Owners Can’t Fleece Movie Goers By Overpricing Tickets Immediately After New Movie’s Release: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court has asked the committee, constituted by the Government, to initiate action against theatre owners who overprice the tickets for customers. The court has also asked the committee to ensure that the excess amount collected by the theatres are refunded to the customers.

Justice Anand Venkatesh observed that when the government itself had fixed rates, which was being revised from time to time, the theatre owners could not fleece the movie-goers by charging excess amount from them.

“In the considered view of this Court, when the Government has fixed a rate which is revised from time to time, the theatre owners cannot fleece the movie goers by collecting excess amount from them. Hence, whenever any such practise is followed by the theatres particularly, after the release of a new film, the Committee constituted by the Government shall take steps to initiate action against the concerned theatre owner and direct refund of excess amount collected. They shall also act upon any complaints that is received in this regard,” the court ordered.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Devarajan seeking directions to the Special Tahsildar (Chief Minister’s Special Cell), Additional Chief Secretary (Home Department), Additional Home Secretary (Special Team-Cinema), and the Principal Secretary To Government (Special Team-Cinema) to take action against movie theatre owners in Chennai who were collecting excess money from the customers as ticket fee.

The petitioner had contended that some movie theatres were charging more money during the initial days of a movie release which was higher than the rates fixed by the government. He also sought for reimbursing the excess fee paid by him.

The additional government pleader informed the court that the state was continuously monitoring the charges collected by the cinema theatres. The AGP also submitted that a committee had already been formed in this regard which would inspect the theatres and recommend taking action in case of violation.

Considering the submission made by the state and noting that the committee has been taking care of excess fee collection, the court disposed the plea and asked the committee to act against the theatre owners.

Counsel for Petitioner: Mr. G. Devarajan

Counsel for Respondent: Mr. E. Vijay Anand Additional Government Pleader

Case Title: G Devarajan V The Special Tahsildar and Others

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Mad) 195

Case No: W.P.No.22844 of 2017

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