Public Interest Litigation filed seeking a stay of 100% occupancy in theatres against the government order permitting 100% was challenged before Madurai bench of Madras High Court,on behalf of Tamil Nadu Theatre Owner’s Association,Mr S Prabakaran senior counsel has submitted that the theatre owners are

Public Interest Litigation filed seeking a stay of 100% occupancy in theatres against the government order permitting 100% was challenged before Madurai bench of Madras High Court,on behalf of Tamil Nadu Theatre Owner’s Association,Mr S
Prabakaran senior counsel has submitted that the theatre owners are also very much concerned about the pandemic deadly disease covid -19, so the theatres were closed since day of anouncement of lockdown from23/3/2020 till date without playing any cinemas, Mr Prabakaran further submitted that the entire cine field, theatres, mulitiplexes have come to a complete stand still and the employees who were working in theatres are jobless and maintainance of theatres including projectors, air conditioners, maintenance of cleanliness of halls etc. Though it is closed these are completly followed. For these expenses, there is no profit or income to the owners for past 10 months, at present the government of Tamil Nadu government has relaxed the seating capacity of theatre to extent of 100%the learned senior counsel further submitted that proper sop has instructed by the government of India will be followed in true letter and spirit.
It was further submitted by the learned senior S Prabakaran that proper steps would be taken by the owners association in preventing the spread of covid – 19, there was objection by the central govt that the sop was directed to file only 50 % capacity and that it is the fault of the state government by allowing 100 % occupancy. The learned senior counsel countered the objection and has submitted that the flights, other modes such as buses and trains are transported with full strenght following the sop and further submittted that the theater owner associations would under take the theatres would follow the proper guidelines by frequent temperature checks to the visitors; will provide sanitisation dispenser and provide sanitizer to the visitors and will follow a queue and lane discipline with proper social distancing while allowing the people inside the theater. These submissions were put to the court by way of suggestions by learned senior counsel S Prabakaran the Hon’ble bench has heard all the counsels and the state and adjourned the matter to 11.1.2021, while adjourning the matter the bench has issued certain directions to consider and equate the loss of theatre owners if at all only 50% capacity allowed and directed the state government to increase the number of shows per day or any other way to equate the loss. This matter is now been adjourned to 11/1 2021 in order to find sollution on both the sides on one is to find a solution for the current pandemic situation screening of movies on what strength and what are all the suggestion following the sop etc, the other one is to equate the loss of the owners if lesser occupancy is permitted than 100% the Hon’ble judges has direvted all the counsel to give their valuable suggestions to find out remedy on both ways. The matter will be heard on 11.1.2021