Court Holds Back on Karnataka's Movie Ticket Price Cap

The Karnataka High Court has paused the enforcement of the Karnataka Cinemas (Regulation) (Amendment) Rules, 2025, which imposed a Rs 200 cap on movie ticket prices statewide. The stay was granted after a petition from cinema stakeholders claimed the cap infringed upon business rights and lacked legislative support.

The Karnataka High Court has placed a hold on the enforcement of a controversial rule capping movie ticket prices at Rs 200 across the state. This decision was made as the court heard a petition from the Multiplex Association of India and other cinema stakeholders opposing the amendment.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the petitioners, argued that the government arbitrarily imposed the ticket price ceiling without clear justification or legal authority. He emphasized that previous attempts to regulate ticket prices were also suspended by the court.

The state defended the rule citing public interest and constitutional backing to regulate cinemas. Despite their arguments, the court decided to maintain the interim stay on the amendment, leaving the decision pending further orders.

(With inputs from agencies.)