MP High Court Addresses PIL Against Movie Theatres: Holds “Time is a Valuable Resource”

Introduction

In a significant development in the PIL against movie theatres, the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Gwalior Bench, has addressed a long-standing concern of moviegoers across the country, the arbitrary delay in movie screenings due to excessive advertisements. The Court, in its final order in WP-3290-2025, has taken cognizance of the issue and directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to consider the matter and frame appropriate regulations after consulting relevant stakeholders.

This Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by Swati Agrawal, paralegal at J.P. Associates, challenging the industry-wide practice where movie theatres display one showtime on the ticket but commence the film 10 to 40 minutes later, subjecting audiences to prolonged advertisements without prior disclosure or consent.

The Grounds for the Petition

The PIL was based on the following key concerns:

1. Misrepresentation & Lack of Transparency
   • Movie theatres advertise a specific showtime, creating a reasonable expectation that the film will start at that time.
   • However, screenings are deliberately delayed, forcing consumers to watch extended advertisements.

2. Infringement of Fundamental Rights (Article 21: Right to Choose & Personal Liberty)
   • Viewers have a right to decide which content they wish to engage with.
   • Unlike television, where advertisements can be skipped or muted, audiences in theatres are held captive and forced to endure ads without consent.

3. Unjust Enrichment of Theatres
   • Theatres profit twice: once from advertisers who pay premium slots, and again from viewers who pay for an uninterrupted movie experience but are denied that right.

4. Violation of Consumer Rights(Consumer Protection Act, 2019)
   • This practice amounts to misleading representation, unfair trade practices, and deficiency in service, as consumers pay for a scheduled movie experience but receive an altered service.

5. Public Interest Concern
   • This is not an isolated incident but a nationwide, systematic practice affecting millions of moviegoers.
   • Sporadic consumer complaints had been raised in various consumer forums, but they failed to address the root issue since they only provided case-specific remedies rather than addressing the industry-wide malpractice.
   • Given the continuous nature of the problem, a comprehensive regulatory intervention was required.
   • Viewers, including elderly individuals, working professionals, and families, face avoidable inconvenience and hardship due to this practice.

How the USA Has Addressed This Issue

Interestingly, a similar issue was raised in the Connecticut State Senate (USA), where a bill was introduced to address transparency in movie showtimes. The Connecticut bill proposed that movie theatres be required to disclose the exact time the feature presentation begins, ensuring that customers are not misled by ambiguous scheduling. Link to the bill: https://legiscan.com/CT/text/SB00797/2025

This bill was also presented by the petitioner before the Hon’ble MP High Court and the Hon’ble Court took due notice of the same. This reflects a growing international recognition that consumers should not be misled into paying for an experience that is materially different from what is advertised. The MP High Court’s decision aligns with global discussions on consumer rights, highlighting the urgent need for India to establish similar transparency norms.

What the Court Held

After hearing the matter, the Hon’ble High Court, while disposing of the petition, acknowledged the importance of the issue and granted the petitioner liberty to submit a detailed representation to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Key Observations from the Court’s Order

1. Stakeholder Consultation Required – The Hon’ble Court did not issue a blanket ban on advertisements but directed that the matter be objectively deliberated upon by the concerned authorities.

• Time is a Valuable Resource – The Hon’ble Court while holding that “Before parting, this Court expects the authorities to engage in meaningful discussion with all stakeholders because one can not forget that “Time is a valuable Resource” and how the divergent views can be reconciled, is to be seen by the respondents” recognized that moviegoers’ time is being compromised without transparency and that the authorities must consider all viewpoints before formulating regulations.

• Authority to Frame Guidelines Lies with the Government – While the court refrained from issuing direct directions, it placed the responsibility on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to engage in discussions with stakeholders and determine whether regulations should be framed.

What This Means for Moviegoers

This decision marks a crucial step toward consumer protection and transparency in cinema operations. Although the High Court has left the final decision to the government, it has formally recognized the legitimacy of concerns raised by moviegoers.

Following this order:

1. The petitioner has submitted a representation to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, urging it to frame regulations.

• The Ministry will now consult stakeholders, including movie theatres, consumer forums, and industry bodies, to decide on potential guidelines.

• If regulations are framed, moviegoers may soon see clearer disclosures on movie tickets, ensuring they are not misled about actual showtimes.

Conclusion

The MP High Court’s order in WP-3290-2025 has set the stage for a much-needed discussion on transparency in cinema operations. While the court has left the final decision to the executive, its recognition of the issue and directive for regulatory deliberation is a positive step forward.

As the matter progresses, it remains to be seen whether the government will introduce mandatory disclosures or guidelines to prevent misleading practices by cinema operators. For now, this case has brought national attention to a long-standing consumer grievance, paving the way for better accountability and fairness in the movie-going experience.

Link to the Hon’ble M.P. High Court’s order dated 01/03/2025: https://mphc.gov.in/upload/gwalior/MPHCGWL/2025/WP/3290/WP_3290_2025_FinalOrder_01-03-2025_digi.pdf

Link to similar articles: https://jpassociates.co.in/child-custody-and-visitation-rights/

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