The Multiplexes Association on Thursday moved the bench of chief justice of Telangana High Court challenging the recent order passed by Justice Vijaysen Reddy that ordered prohibiting children below 16 years of age into the movie theatres after 11pm.
The petitioners argued that they weren't given an opportunity to air their views before the single judge, who passed interim orders in the form of final orders, which hampered the business of multiplexes.
However, the chief justice bench has refused to entertain the writ appeal and allowed the petitioners to withdraw the appeal and move a petition before the single judge for relief.
The association said they would first file a review petition before the same Vijay Sen Reddy bench and if they don’t get the relief, they would approach the division bench.
On January 27, Justice Reddy passed interim orders directing the state government and cinema houses and multiplexes not to permit children below 16 years of age to watch films in theatres before 11 am and after 11 pm.
He was hearing the arguments over a petition filed by senior journalist Satish Kamal challenging the state government’s permission to the theatres to screen special premier and benefit shows for films – “Pushpa 2: The Rule” starring Allu Arjun and “Game Changer” starring Ram Charan, in the wee hours 1 am and 4 am.
The petition was filed in the wake of the stampede during the screening of the premiere show of Pushpa-2: The Rule on the night of December 4 at Sandhya Theatre which claimed the life of a 35-year-old woman and left her nine-year-old son hospitalised in a state of coma.
Counsel for the petitioner P Srinivas Reddy argued that License Condition 12(43) in Form B of the License for Cinematography Exhibition under the AP Cinema (Regulations) Rules, 1970, does not permit exhibition of films before 8.40 am or after 1.30 am bracket.
He said children should not be permitted to watch movies during the late hours, as it would have adverse impact on their physical and mental health.
Accepting this argument, the court ordered that children below 16 years should not be permitted to watch late-night movie shows after 11 pm or during early hours in theatres and multiplexes.
