Cinema Halls Are Entitled To Prohibit Outside Food, Rules Supreme Court

Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that cinema halls are entitled to prohibit the viewers from taking outside food inside.

A bench of the apex court comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha said cinema halls are private properties and their owners have the right to set their terms and conditions regarding food and beverages. A moviegoer has a choice to not consume the food that is sold in the cinema hall premises.

However, the conditions should not be contrary to public interest or safety and the parents carrying food and water for their infants are exempted from restrictions, the bench held.

The court issued the ruling after hearing an appeal against Jammu and Kashmir High Court order that had removed the ban on outside food stating that people should not be forced to eat whatever the cinemas serve. The bench scrapped the High Court order.

“Suppose someone starts getting jalebis inside the movie hall then the theatre’s management can stop them. If the viewer wipes his sticky fingers on the seats, then who will pay for the cleaning? People can also bring tandoori chicken. Then there will be complaints of bones left in the hall. That could also bother people. No one is forcing them to buy popcorn,” the Outlook quoted the CJI as making the remark.