The Madras High Court on Monday sought the response of State government and 28 theatres in different parts of the State to a writ petition filed by a film-goer accusing cinemas of collecting exorbitant ticket charges during the first four days of the release of Ajith starrer Vivegam.
Justice M. Duraiswamy directed a government counsel to take notice on behalf of the Home Secretary and the Collectors of Krishnagiri, Salem, Madurai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Vellore, Krishnagiri and Tirunelveli districts and ordered issuance of court notices returnable by September 11 to the theatre owners. Arguing the case in person, the petitioner told the judge that he had filed three similar cases during the release of Rajinikant-starrer Kabali, Suriya-starrer Singam II and also Vijay-starrer Bhairava.
‘No action’
While dealing with one of those cases, the court ordered constitution of a special team to keep a check on theatres. “Though the government had formed a special team in compliance of an order passed by this court, the team was not performing its duty properly. The law provides for levying penalty on the theatre owners, yet the officials do not take any stringent action against them,” he alleged.