A day after UT Deputy Commissioner’s office ordered the suspension of the cinemas licence of PVR Cinema at city’s Centra Mall and Elante Mall, the PVR Cinemas filed an appeal before Deputy Commissioner on Thursday.
PVR Cinemas have been sealed at Centra Mall and Elante Mall for two days i.e. September 26 and 27. The hearing of the case will be held in DC office on Friday now.
In the orders issued by Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shayin on Wednesday, PVR Cinema had been directed to stop exhibition of films on September 26 and 27 at both Centra Mall and Elante Mall. The management had also been directed to strictly adhere to the cinema ticket rates in future as approved by the licensing authority.
In Chandigarh, Deputy Commissioner is the licensing authority and decides regarding the rates to be charged in cinemas. The rates range from `100 in the silver category to `600 in the premium category. The prices in cinemas vary in morning and afternoon during weekdays and are different over the weekend also.
However, the prices being offered in an advertisement by the PVR Cinemas recently were lesser than even the lowest rate of `100 for the silver ticket. The orders issued by DC had stated that the management of the PVR Cinema at Centra Mall and Elante Mall were given an opportunity vide memo dated September 18 to clarify regarding floating of the rates in respect of their cinemas which are less than the rates as approved by the licensing Authority.
“The management of PVR Cinemas have failed to reply within stipulated time which shows that the management of the PVR Cinema has willfully contravened the provisions of Section 7 A (1) of the Punjab Cinemas (Regulation) Haryana Amendment Act, 1969 as extended to the union territory, Chandigarh and orders dated 18/7/13 of this office and condition no 4 of the licence,” had stated the orders.
The UT Administration vide an order issued on July 19 had increased the rates of movie tickets from 15 per cent to 20 per cent in different categories.