Film exhibitors knock on HC door

Hyderabad: Many owners of cinema theatres in Hyderabad approached the High Court at Hyderabad challenging the GO issued by the State government mandating online ticketing system and payment of 1.98 per cent of ticket fare as fee to Telangana State Film Development Corporation (TSFDC).

They also challenged the circular issued by the government directing the theatres to register with the online ticketing portal of a private firm Century Tech Systems Pvt Ltd. They sought quashing of both the GO and the circular as they were issued arbitrarily, without any thought about consequences.

Justice S V Bhatt while hearing the petitions on Monday gave a direction to the government to maintain status quo. He also directed the government, the TSFDC and the private firm to file detailed counter affidavits explaining the situation and adjourned the case to December 19.

Earlier, the counsel for the petitioners, K Durga Prasad, informed the judge that the government had threatened the theatres that if they did not register with the private ticketing portal, each show would be presumed as housefull and accordingly taxes would be levied. He alleged that Century Tech Systems firm influenced the government and the Police Commissioner to ensure that the tickets were sold only through its portal.

He said it was also not clear whether the firm would pay back the entire amount it received to the theatres or not. The counsel also pointed out that the TSFDC would get a paltry 38 paise on each ticket while the online portal would make much more. He also raised the issue that the GO was silent on what needed to be done by the theatres if the portal did not pay them back their ticket amounts. This hurried, arbitrary action of the government needed to be quashed, he submitted. The judge sought placing of full details regarding this before him by the next date of hearing on December 19.