Judicial Review on Extended Advertisements in Movie Theatres: A Consumer Rights Perspective
Judicial Review on Extended Advertisements in Movie Theatres: A Consumer Rights Perspective By Abhishek Jat, Advocate The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently addressed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the prolonged display of advertisements in multiplex cinemas, which allegedly causes inconvenience to moviegoers. A Division Bench comprising Justice Anand Pathak and Justice Hirdesh deliberated on the issue and directed the authorities to engage in meaningful policy discussions before considering judicial intervention. The Court observed that time is a valuable resource, emphasizing the need for balanced policy measures. Background of the Petition The petitioner, a law student, raised concerns over the common practice of multiplex cinemas displaying extended advertisements before the commencement of movies. This practice, according to the petitioner, results in undue delays beyond the scheduled movie start time mentioned on tickets. The plea argued that moviegoe...