Jagadamba Theater, Vishakapatnam, v. The State Of Andhra Pradesh Rep. By Its Principal

HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAJA ELANGO WRIT PETITION No.40374 of 2016 ORDER:

The present writ petition is filed by the petitioners seeking to declare the action of the 1st respondent in issuing G.O.Ms. No.100 Home (General.A.1) Department, dated 26.04.2013, by providing therein for minimum and higher ticket admission prices for Air-conditioned and Aircooled theatres and in further notifying a price of only R.10/ - contrary to the recommendations made by the High Power Committee and in also fixing a minimum percentage for such category of seats, as illegal and arbitrary.

Heard and perused the material available on record. The grievance of the petitioners is that they submitted applications on 11.11.2016, before the Joint Collectors concerned, to permit them to raise the ticket rates from release date of the picture " Dhruva" and the same is pending before the authorities concerned. In a batch of writ petition being WP No.18779 of 2014 & batch, this Court set aside the impugned G.O., vide order, dated 31.10.2016, and the petitioners therein are given liberty to collect their proposed fares, informing the same to the authorities concerned and pay taxes proportionately to the government. Therefore, the petitioners are permitted to collect the rates as proposed in their applications, dated 11.11.2016, till issuance of new G.O.

Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. Consequently, miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed.

______________ RAJA ELANGO, J November 22, 2016.

KTL