Hyderabad: A division bench of the Telangana high court on Tuesday refused to grant relief to movie production house M/s Shine Screens India LLP, which challenged a Jan 20 order of a single judge mandating that any proposed hike in movie ticket prices be disclosed at least 90 days before a film’s release.A bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin directed the production house to approach the single judge, where related matters are already pending.Shine Screens had filed an appeal against the single judge’s order, which was passed while hearing a suo motu contempt case. The judge had taken serious note of the govt’s decision permitting a hike in ticket prices for the recent Tollywood release ‘Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu’ starring Chiranjeevi and Nayanthara, in violation of high court orders.The single judge had initiated contempt proceedings against special chief secretary (Home) CV Anand, for allegedly issuing orders to increase ticket rates. The judge directed that if the govt proposes to permit a ticket price hike for any film in future, the decision must be placed in the public domain at least 90 days before the film’s release.Such action would enable aggrieved or interested parties to avail statutory remedies under Section 7A of the Telangana Cinemas Regulation Act, including by filing appropriate applications or legal challenges, the judge observed.Aggrieved by this order, Shine Screens approached the division bench contending that the guideline adversely affected the rights of film producers. However, the bench declined to entertain the appeal at this stage and advised the production house to pursue its remedies before the single judge.
