However, prima facie, Justice Somayajulu found that service charge for an amenity like online booking cannot be included in the “rate of admission”.
“The rate of admission would mean the “actual ticket cost” payable or is actually necessary for the entry into the auditorium,” said the judge.
Further, the Court also took a prima facie view that the government, at best, could convey its opinion to the licensing authority, but the ultimate decision must be of the licensing authority. It was clarified that this issue would also be looked at more thoroughly before being decided.
“For the present the prima facie opinion is that the Government cannot be the authority by itself to fix the rates and the charges,” the order stated.
Source: Barandbench
