Cinema Halls Are Not Gyms To Serve Healthy Food: SC

The Supreme Court said that cinema halls and multiplexes have the right to impose conditions and deciding on whether to allow outside food and beverages into their premises. The SC made this observation while hearing to a petition seeking for a ban on food from outside at cinemas.

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha set aside an order issued by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court which removed the ban on people carrying their own food and beverages in theatres.

“The cinema hall is not a gym to carry healthy food. It is a place of entertainment and also a private property. It is for the owner to decide subject to statutory rules. Insisting that arms should not be allowed or there should be no discrimination on basis of caste or gender is fine. How can the High Court say that they can bring any food inside the cinema halls,” the Supreme Court asked.

The bench said that the High Court had overstepped its brief and pointed out that cinemas have already been directed to provide, especially for children, free food and clean water. Whether or not to watch a movie is the choice of the viewer but once they step into the theatre, the audience have to abide by the rules framed by the management, it observed.

Explaining the point, the judges said: “Suppose someone gets jalebis inside the cinema hall, the theatre management can stop them. If the viewer wipes his sticky fingers on the seats, who will pay for the cleaning? People can also bring tandoori chicken and then there will be complaints of bones being left in the hall.”

“No one is forcing the audience to buy popcorn,” Chief Justice Chandrachud said.

“For water, the court can make a concession that free water be provided at movie theatres. But suppose the theatre management sells nimbu paani for Rs 20, the viewer cannot say that he will go buy his nimbu from outside and squeeze it in a flask and make it inside the theatre.”

The SC dealt with the case dating back to July 18, 2018 when the J&K HC set aside a ban on food and drinks from outside in cinema theatres. Due to the ban, people are forced to consume whatever is sold in theatre, the HC said.