Karnataka HC Stays Govt Order Capping Movie Ticket Prices at Rs 200

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday stayed the state government’s September 12 notification that capped the maximum price of cinema tickets at Rs 200. Regarding petitions against the State Government’s decision to cap movie ticket at Rs 200 excluding Goods and Services Tax (GST), the High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday stayed the decision after it was challenged by Multiplex Association of India and film producers and the stay will be in effect until further orders.

The State Government amended the Karnataka Cinemas (Regulation) (Amendment) Rules, 2025 to cap movie tickets at Rs 200 for all cinema theatres including multiplexes. In a joint plea, the petitioners stated capping cinema ticket prices for all theatres, regardless of whether they are multiplexes or not, was unreasonable since multiplexes bear more costs that single-screen film theatres.

An advocate representing petitioners stated the capping movie tickets caused “unreasonable restriction on business" and pointed out to State-imposed cap on movie ticket prices was withdrawn 7 years back and the withdrawal came after the move was challenged in the Court.

The petition stated the amended rules “arbitrarily’ exempt “multi-screen” cinemas with premium facilities of 75 seats or less without any definition being given on what constitutes “premium facilities.”

A senior advocate representing Multiplex Associations of India argued film exhibitors should have the freedom to fix prices for offering luxury services and stated if customers wished to pay more luxury facilities in cinema halls, they should have that choice.