Ticket Rates: High Court shocks AP government

Ever since the AP government headed by CM Jagan Mohan Reddy and his party YSRCP decided to reduce the ticket rates drastically, a huge controversy was generated. Everyone knew that the Jagan government targeted Pawan Kalyan's Vakeel Saab and went on a witchhunt that continued till Bheemla Nayak. This resulted in many films getting suffered.

After intense lobbying Jagan decided to remove the controversial GO and restored the status quo but with numerous conditions. This benefited a few films like Rajamouli's RRR and to some extent Prabhas' Radhe Shyam. However, with the numerous conditions, it gave ample scope for Jagan to make the film industry dance to his whims and fancies.

Under these circumstances, the AP government got a huge shock from the High Court. AP High Court in its interim order said that the AP government has no right to decide on the ticket rates in the theatres and can only share its opinion and views with the licensing authority. High Court made clear that the ultimate decision over the ticket rates in theatres lies with the licensing authority.

Justice DVS. Somayajulu passed an interim order and in his order made clear that the service charges cannot be clubbed with the ticket rates in the online portals. Justice said the multiplexes can sell the tickets as per the old system. The case is posted for the next hearing on June 15, 2022.