No Night Show Movies for Minors: Telangana HC

 Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has issued significant orders restricting children below 16 years of age from watching movies in theatres or multiplexes in Telangana after 11 pm.

Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy directed the state government to take a decision on regulating the entry of children below sixteen years into theatres or multiplexes before 11 am and after 11 pm. The judge made it clear that until such a decision is taken by the state government, children below 16 years will not be allowed to watch movies after 11 pm.

The court observed that allowing children to roam outside and watch movies at midnight or during the early hours could adversely affect their physical and mental health. The judge also expressed concern about how late-night screen time impacts children.

The court, therefore, directed the government to consult all the stakeholders, including child psychologists, and issue instructions to all concerned for regulating entry of children below 16 years in theatres and multiplexes before 11 am and after 11 pm.

Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy issued the orders in response to a batch of petitions filed against the government allowing benefit shows and midnight shows in the state. The court, on January 10, had issued orders to review the permissions granted for benefit shows.

Following the court’s orders, the government decided not to allow benefit shows in the state. Additionally, it was decided that early morning shows would not be permitted in the future unless public interest, health, and safety are duly considered. This decision was communicated to the court during a recent hearing.

However, Vijay Gopal and Mahesh Mamindla, counsels for the petitioners, submitted to the court that, as per License Condition 12(43) in Form B Licence for Cinematograph Exhibition under the AP Cinema (Regulations) Rules, 1970, "the licensee shall not allow any performance or exhibit any film by means of a cinematograph before 8.40 am or after 1.30 am.”

Counsels argued that children, more particularly, minors should not be permitted to watch movies during the late hours and there are no restrictions in place regulating entry of minors in theatres during late night shows.The government should have taken a prompt decision for regulating entry of minors in theatres, more particularly, in view of the unfortunate stampede incident during the benefit show of ‘Pushpa -2‘ in Sandhya Theatre, which lead to grievous injuries to a minor boy and death of his mother.

Considering the arguments, the court opined that the children below 16 years should not be permitted to watch late night movie shows after 11 pm in theatres and multiplexes.