Outside Food Allowed at Multiplexes, Action To Be Taken If Movie-Goers Denied Outside Eatables In Theatres, Says Maharashtra Minister
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party workers also jumped into the issue. A few of THE party workers at Pune also assaulted the theatre manager for eatables being sold at exorbitant prices. A video of same went viral
Nagpur, July 13: There is no restriction on taking outside food in cinema halls, theatres, and multiplexes, said Maharashtra Food Supplies Minister Ravindra Chavan on Friday during the ongoing Assembly Session in Nagpur, providing major relief to people who have to spend more money on eatables. Chavan made the statement on the motion tabled by Maharashtra NCP Legislative Council (Upper House) Leader of Opposition (LOP) Dhananjay Munde asking for clarification from the government on whether outside food is permissible in theatres or not and whether there is any law.
Chavan in his reply also stated that action will be taken against the theatres' employees and owners if people are denied from carrying outside food. He also added that there cannot be a different price tag on the same food product sold at multiplexes and outside.
The State Food and Civil Supplies, Consumer Protection minister's clarification comes at a time when a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has also been filed in the Bombay High Court by Jainendra Baxi, through his lawyer Aditya Pratap. A hearing on the same by the division bench of Justices Ranjit More and Anuja Prabhudessai directed the state to examine the Bombay Police Act to see if it can be used to regulate prices of eatables being sold in cinema halls. The court, during the hearing, also slammed the state on why it could not regulate the prices of food items being sold at exorbitant rates in multiplexes.
The plea claimed that there was no legal or statutory provision that prohibits one from carrying personal food articles or water inside the movie theatres.
Earlier last month, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party workers assaulted a theatre manager in Pune for eatables being sold at exorbitant prices. A video of the same went viral.
Ravindra Chavan also stated that from August 1st onwards, the food products at multiplexes can be sold at prevailing prices, but after August 1st, the eatables have to sold at the MRP rates, which include bottled cold-drinks, chips packet, etc. The grace period has been given to multiplexes so that they can sell the stocked items available with them and finish it soon.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 13, 2018 11:47 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).