This news piece is based on ‘Cinema Hall owners can determine whether outside food be permitted: Supreme Court’ published in The Hindu on January 04, 2023.  

Why in News?  

Recently the Supreme Court has ruled that the owners of cinema halls are entitled to set the terms and conditions for the sale of food and beverages and can determine whether outside food should be permitted within the theatre precincts. 

Observation of the Court  

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha set aside a Jammu and Kashmir High Court order that had removed the ban on people carrying their own food and water in theatres. A movie goer has a choice to not consume the same. The bench, however, reiterated that cinemas shouldn't object to food carried by parents for infants. The property of cinema hall is private property of the owner of the hall. It is for the owner to decide subject to statutory rules.  

The court in its order said: "The High Court exceeded jurisdiction in passing such an order. It has been submitted movie hall owners that drinking water will be supplied free of charge and when an infant accompanies a parent, as a matter of practice hall owners do not object to reasonable amount of food for infant." 

Deciding on the fundamental aspect as to whether that trade and business of conducting cinema business was subject to regulations by State in terms of Rules 1975, the Court observed that the Rules contained does not mandate compelling the owner to allow movie goer to get food in cinema.