MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday reiterated that patrons cannot be unilaterally prohibited from bringing their own food and water bottles inside theatres and multiplexes when vendors are allowed to serve inside at exorbitant prices.
“Either there should be total prohibition – no one should be allowed to carry or serve food inside theatres or multiplexes or the viewers should also be allowed to carry their own food and water bottles,” said the division bench of justice Shantanu Kemkar and justice Makrand Karnik. “They cannot compel viewers to buy food articles at exorbitant prices,” the bench said.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by city resident Jinendra Baxi, challenging the ban on packed food and water bottles inside cinema halls, especially multiplexes.
In his PIL, filed through advocate Aditya Pratap, the film writer and director highlighted that patrons are not allowed to carry their own food items and water bottles inside theatres when there is no legal restriction on permitting the same inside cinema halls, but fast food is being served in several theatres, especially multiplexes and also permitted to be consumed inside theatres, although there is a restriction imposed on it by Rule 121 of the Maharashtra Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1966.