The Telangana High Court has modified its previous order regarding children under 16 in theaters. The revised ruling allows children to attend all regular movie shows without time restrictions.
However, the court has upheld the ban on premier shows, benefit shows, and special screenings. The next hearing on this case is scheduled for March 17.
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This legal issue gained attention after a tragic incident during a benefit show of Pushpa 2 at Sandhya Theater, where a woman lost her life in a stampede, and her 10-year-old son slipped into a coma.
Following this, senior journalist Satish Kamal filed a petition seeking a ban on early morning benefit shows, arguing that they pose safety risks.
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The court initially ruled that children under 16 should not be allowed in theaters after 11 PM, a decision that multiplex associations later challenged.
On Thursday, the Telangana High Court heard arguments from both sides. The multiplex association argued that they were not given a chance to present their case earlier and that the ruling had negatively impacted their business.
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Earlier, the government had permitted early morning benefit shows for Pushpa 2 and Game Changer, but the petitioner argued that this violated 1970 AP Cinematography rules, which prohibit screenings before 8:40 AM or after 1:30 AM.
The court acknowledged the potential negative impact of late-night shows on children’s health and reaffirmed its order restricting their entry into theaters after 11 PM.
However, the latest ruling provides relief to multiplexes by allowing children at regular show timings.
