HC-deputed panel arrests over-pricing of movie tickets

The Corporation authorities, who submitted details about the sale of tickets for both the films to a Division Bench of Justices KK Sasitharan and PD Audikesavalu, said that the effective checking of ticket price has resulted in higher entertainment tax revenue of Rs 3.53 crore.

The bench appointed 23 advocate commissioners to monitor the sale of tickets, which were priced beyond the fixed rate in 23 theatres for these two movies.

Earlier, P Mahendra Pandi of Usilampatti sought the intervention of the court to regulate the price of movie tickets. Besides, the Madurai Corporation also deputed 22 officials as per the court’s directive to accompany the advocate commissioners to inspect ticket sale in these theatres.

The officials and advocate commissioners were authorised to enter the theatres during all the shows from January 12 to 17 and collect all necessary details such as actual fare, number of tickets sold and viewers’ turnout by head count in these theatres.

The bench, while adjourning the case to January 30, said, if any petition was filed in the future regarding over pricing of tickets, a team of officials from GST, Entertainment Tax and Corporation would be deputed to regulate the ticket prices and the offenders would also be prosecuted.