Karnataka HC stays order directing PVR to compensate Bengaluru man for delaying movie screening with excessive ads

Abhishek MR, a consumer from Bengaluru, had filed a case against PVR Cinemas and INOX (now merged with PVR) for the delayed screening of the film Sam Bahadur on December 26, 2023.

Representative image showing a PVR movie theatre.

Credit: Reuters Photo

Karnataka High Court on Tuesday stayed a consumer court order directing PVR cinema to compensate a filmgoer for delaying movie screenings with extended advertisements.

Abhishek MR, a consumer from Bengaluru, had filed a case on PVR Cinemas and INOX (now merged with PVR) for the delayed screening of the film Sam Bahadur on December 26, 2023.

After hearing the case, the Bengaluru District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed PVR INOX to display the actual time of movie on tickets and not the time when the advertisements start playing in the hall. 

The district consumer forum observed that PVR and INOX cannot "engage in unfair practice and waste movie goer's time by showing long commercial ads during the time slot meant to exhibit the movie itself."

More to follow...