SC stays HC order allowing home food in theatres

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New Delhi: The Multiplex Association of India (MAI) has welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court that stayed a Jammu and Kashmir High Court order permitting moviegoers to carry their own eatables and beverages into theatres.
“We are satisfied by the interim direction of the Supreme Court of India, staying the order of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir,” Deepak Asher, president of the Multiplex Association of India, said in a statement.
‘‘We have always maintained that allowing patrons to bring in their own food and beverages inside cinema theatres, besides infringing upon the fundamental rights of multiplex and cinema operators to carry on business, and being violative of the contractual agreement between the patron and the cinema operator, has serious implications for safety and security as well as health and hygiene.
“The stay granted by the Supreme Court reinforces the established business practice followed by cinemas across the world, and also similar practices followed by other establishments and businesses like amusement parks, entertainment centres, sports stadia, restaurants and hotels,’’ he added.
A bench of Justices Rohinton F Nariman and Indu Malhotra wanted to know whether there are any statutory provisions to put restrictions on carrying of outside food inside cinemas.
The court asked Sidharth Anand, who filed the PIL before the High Court, to file a response to the appeal against the impugned order and posted the matter for hearing after six weeks.
Last month, the High Court had said moviegoers cannot be forced by multiplexes and cinema hall owners to buy food, water and beverages from the theatre premises nor can they be prohibited from carrying food items into malls and multiplexes.
The High Court said such acts on the part of multiplex/cinema hall owners are against the right to choice of food, including the right not to eat junk food and right to good health, which comes under the purview of Article 21 of the Constitution of India.