State establishment creates regulatory body for cinema ticket costs, informs Kerala High Court
Kerala High Court Hears Case on Cinema Ticket Pricing Regulation
The Kerala High Court is currently considering a case that challenges the practice of dynamic ticket pricing in multiplexes like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis. The case, brought forward by advocate Manu Nair G through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), is aimed at addressing the unregulated pricing model.
In response to the PIL, the State government of Kerala has constituted a committee to examine and recommend measures to regulate cinema ticket pricing, including dynamic pricing models. The committee's formation was announced to the Kerala High Court on August 11, 2025.
The committee, chaired by the Chairman of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation, includes members such as the Chairman of the Kerala State Chalachithra Academy, Chairman of the Kerala State Cultural Activists Welfare Fund Board, Secretary of the Kerala State Chalachithra Academy, a representative from the Local Self Government Department, a representative from the Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation, and the Managing Director of the Kerala Film Development Corporation. The committee's convenor is the Managing Director of the Kerala Film Development Corporation.
The State government, in its affidavit, stated that no existing comprehensive legal framework under the Kerala Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1958 or its rules governs ticket price capping, partly due to changes after the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) that shifted pricing control to theatre operators. This has led to the widespread use of dynamic pricing in the State.
The bench, led by Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji, has directed the State to file a memo along with the Government Order (GO) notifying the constitution of the committee, and the matter is scheduled for further hearing on August 14, 2025, for updates on progress. The petition before the Court raised concerns about arbitrary ticket hikes based on time slots, demand, and release status, stating that this practice violated Article 14 of the Constitution.
The petition sought directions for the Kerala government to frame a regulatory mechanism and to impose an interim ban on dynamic pricing. However, no final ruling or regulatory order has been issued yet; the process is ongoing with the committee's recommendations and government decisions pending. The case emphasizes the need for a policy response for regulating cinema ticket prices in Kerala, especially addressing dynamic pricing models in multiplexes.
As of mid-August 2025, Kerala High Court proceedings continue with the committee actively examining regulatory options, and further hearings are expected shortly to determine the way forward.
- The ongoing case at the Kerala High Court highlights the need for policy-and-legislation regarding cinema ticket pricing, particularly focusing on the dynamic pricing model, which is a significant aspect of politics in the state's movie industry.
- In response to the petition challenging the dynamic pricing model in multiplexes, the Kerala government has formed a committee to examine and recommend measures for policy-and-legislation on cinema ticket pricing, including dynamic pricing models, under the umbrella of general-news.
