Yes, Law Doesn’t Stop You From Carrying Outside Food In Multiplex; But There Is A Catch!

Hyderabad based anti-corruption crusader and activist Vijay Gopal has once again stirred a hornet’s nest.

Once again, it is the issue of carrying your own food inside a movie theater.

What exactly has happened here?

Law Doesn’t Stop You From Carrying Outside Food In Multiplex

Vijay had filed an RTI with Hyderabad Police, enquiring about any law which prohibits cinema-goers from carrying their own food in a cinema theater or multiplex.

In their reply to the RTI, Hyderabad police said that there exists no law in Indian constitution, which can stop a moviegoer from carrying their own food in a cinema.

The reply was based on the provisions under Cinema Regulation Act of 1955, which doesn’t state anywhere that outside food is not allowed in a cinema.

Maharashtra Govt had recently allowed outside food to be carried inside cinema theater; and there is a toll-free number from Govt of India to complain.

In fact, Hyderabad police have said that any citizen can file a complaint with Legal Metrology Department, in case they feel that any law is broken by any business.

However, despite this, almost evert multiplex and cinema chain stops customers from carrying their own food insider movie theater. 

What is the reason?

Why Multiplex and Cinema Doesn’t Allow Outside Food?

Cinemas, multiplexes, restaurants, picnic spots, water sports etc are part of the service industry, and as per the rules of conducting business in India, they can deny any person from entering their premises, based on some implications.

Now, carrying outside food inside theater or restaurant is one such implication, based on which, the security guards can stop any person from entering their premises.

In layman terms, it is the same as “My Place, My Rules”.

And there is no law to stop them either: If a property owner which provides a service (cinema, food etc) decides to imply a rule (carrying outside food, for example), then they have every right to execute that rule.

As per a Redditor, any Indian citizen can file a complaint against this ‘implication’ by the property owner, and can argue municipal codes and existing commercial laws to fight a case.

But again, that can be a weak argument, since the property owner of that service also has a right of admission into their premises.

It seems that the debate of carrying one’s own food into cinema theater will take some more time to get resolved.

We will keep you updated, as more details come in.