In a major shock to Telugu film producers, the Telangana High Court on Tuesday issued suo motu contempt notices to senior Home Department officials over the controversial ticket price hike granted to the Telugu film “Mana Shankara Varaprasad Garu.”
The court expressed strong displeasure over the violation of its earlier directions and warned the authorities against issuing such orders in the future without following proper legal procedure.
Contempt Notice Issued to Home Department Secretary
During the hearing of WP No. 1518 of 2026, the High Court issued contempt notices to C.V. Anand, Principal Secretary, Home Department.
The bench observed that the memo permitting the ticket price hike was issued in clear violation of previous court orders, which had laid down strict guidelines for regulating movie ticket prices in the state.
The court noted that such actions amount to disregard of judicial directions and cannot be taken lightly.
Advocate Alleges Deliberate Violation of Court Orders
Advocate Vijay Gopal, appearing for the petitioner, strongly argued that:
- Home Department officials deliberately violated earlier High Court directions
- The authorities failed to inform the court about the ticket price hike
- Crucial facts regarding the increase were suppressed intentionally
Based on these submissions, the court decided to initiate contempt proceedings against the concerned official.
Strict Directions Under Telangana Cinemas Regulation Act
The Telangana High Court reiterated that any decision regarding movie ticket price hikes must strictly comply with the Telangana Cinemas Regulation Act, 1955.
The court issued the following key directions:
- Any proposal to increase ticket prices must be announced at least 90 days in advance
- The process must be transparent and lawful
- No special permissions should be granted in violation of court orders
The bench made it clear that no exceptions will be tolerated in future cases.
Strong Warning to Authorities
The court firmly warned the Home Department and other authorities not to issue similar orders in the future without:
- Following earlier High Court directions
- Placing all relevant facts before the court
- Adhering to statutory procedures
The judges observed that repeated violations could lead to serious legal consequences.
Impact on Telugu Film Industry
This development has sent shockwaves across the Telugu film industry, as ticket price hikes have become a crucial revenue strategy for big-budget films.
With the High Court taking a strict stand, producers may now have to:
- Rework pricing strategies
- Plan releases more cautiously
- Ensure full legal compliance before seeking price revisions
Conclusion
The Telangana High Court’s strong action marks a significant moment in the regulation of cinema ticket pricing in the state. With contempt notices now issued, the case is expected to set a strong precedent for future film releases.
All eyes are now on the next hearing, which will decide the fate of the officials involved and the future course of ticket pricing in Telangana.