The Supreme Court on Monday (November 3, 2025) took a strict stance regarding expensive water bottles and coffee available in multiplexes. He has told multiplex operators that there is a need to pay attention to this. The Supreme Court was hearing the petitions of multiplex operators, which were filed against the decision of the Karnataka High Court.
The Karnataka government recently decided to limit the price of movie tickets to Rs 200, following which the Karnataka High Court directed multiplex operators to maintain auditable records of ticket sales, including the method of booking and payment, while the matter is pending in court. Also, digital receipts should be issued and the daily cash register should be signed by the manager.
The High Court had also said that if the ticket cap (limit of Rs 200) order of the state government is later found to be correct, then during the period of litigation, the additional charges taken through electronic means will have to be returned to the consumers.
According to the report of Live Law, in front of the bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta in the Supreme Court, the lawyer of multiplex operators, Mukul Rohatgi, said that it is difficult to maintain the record of every ticket because tickets are booked not only through the counter but also through Book My Show. Mukul Rohatgi also argued that the state government does not have the right to decide the ticket price.
The Supreme Court agreed with the decision of the High Court and said that the limit of Rs 200 is fine. However, the court has stayed the order to keep records of tickets. Justice Vikram Nath made sharp remarks on the high prices of things sold in cinema halls. The court said, ‘You people sell water bottles for Rs 100, coffee for Rs 700… If this continues, the halls will remain empty.’
Advocate Mukul Rohatgi said on the court’s comment that it is a matter of consumer choice, On this Justice Vikram Nath said, ,Cinemas are already in decline, make them affordable for the people, otherwise the audience will not come., Mukul Rohatgi replied, ,Leave it empty, those who want to watch normal cinema should go there… these are for multiplexes., Justice Vikram Nath said that now there are no normal cinema left.
Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for another petitioner, said that the relevant law does not give the state government the power to fix ticket rates. He said that this decision is beyond the scope of law. Now this case will be listed for hearing on November 25.