1 APHC010064352026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] WEDNESDAY,THE EIGHTEENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO WRIT PETITION NO: 3641/2026 Between: 1. GIDDI ESWARI ENTERTAINMENTS PVT LTD, REP. BY ITS MANAGER N VENKATA RAMANA, S/O CHITUKALAYYA, RAVANAPALLI VILLAGE, KOYYURU MANDAL, GE MAX MULTIPLEX, VISAKHAPATNAM DIST-531 002. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY, GENERAL ADMINISTRATION, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR- 522238. 2. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY MINISTRY FOR CULTURE, TOURISM AND CINEMATOGRAPHY, BLOCK NO.2, SECRETARIAT BUILDING VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR-522238. 3. THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, AP. TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, AUTO NAGAR, VIJAYAWADA- 520 007. 4. THE COLLECTOR, PADERU, AALLURI SITARAMA RAJU DISTRICT, PADERU- 531024 5. JOINT COLLECTOR AND LICENSING AUTHORITY, PADERU, AALLURI SITARAMA RAJU DISTRICT, PADERU-531024. ...RESPONDENT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner: 2 1. B VASANTHA LAKSHMI Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR REVENUE 2. GP FOR TOURISM 3. GP FOR GENERAL ADMINISTRATION The Court made the following: ORDER: The Writ Petition has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following relief:- <…to issue a writ or order or direction more particularly one in the nature of writ of mandamus declaring the action of the 5th respondent only to the extent of fixing of maximum rates of admission per seat at Rs 70/ contrary to Go.Ms.13 dated 07.03.2022 and provisions of AP Cinema Regulation Act 1952 and Rules made thereunder as unjust illegal arbitrary and violative of Article 14 and 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution of India and consequently direct the 5th respondent to fix the rate of admission to the petitioner theatre per the representation of the petitioner theatre dt.24.01.2026 in terms of Go.Ms.13 dated 07.03.2022 by setting aside the order of the 5th respondent dated 24.01.2026 in fixing the maximum rate of admission at Rs 70/ only and pass such other order(s)….= 2. Heard Smt. B. Vasantha Lakshmi, the learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri P. Ajay Babu, the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home. 3. Admittedly, the petitioner has been granted a Form B License by respondent No.5 for Cinematograph Exhibitions (see Sub-Rule (2) of Rule 12) in the name of the petitioner’s cinema building, GE Max Multiplex, comprising two (02) screens, namely the 1st screen <TARA= and the 2nd screen <SITARA.= Indeed, as per G.O. Ms. No.13, multiplex theatres situated in Nagar Panchayats and Gram Panchayats are permitted to collect Rs. 100/- per seat. 3 4. However, the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home submits that the cinema building premises of the petitioner would not come under the definition of multiplex complex and brings to the notice of this Court about G.O. Ms. No. 486, dated 07.07.2007, wherein the term <multiplex complex= is defined as under: "Multiplex complex shall mean an integrated entertainment and shopping center/complex or a shopping mall and having at least three (3) cinema halls/screens. Apart from Cinema Halls, the entertainment area may have restaurants, cafeteria, fast food outlets, video games parlours, pubs, bowling alleys. health spa/centers, convention centers, hotels and other recreational activities. However, habitable areas like hotels, service apartments shall not be allowed in the same block where the Multiplexes are set up and shall be allowed only as a separate block. Such a Complex may be spread over the site or be in one or more blocks which may be high-rise buildings or normal buildings. Site requirements for Multiplex complex: i) The minimum size of plot for a Multiplex shall be 3000 sq.mtrs ii) The minimum abutting road width for a multiplex shall be 18 m existing. The abutting road has to be black-topped with minimum 2-lane carriageway. Service roads are required for sites abutting 30 m and above roads and approach shall be allowed only through service road. The width of the service road shall be minimum 7m with minimum 2-lane black topped carriageway and shall be undertaken by the owners of such buildings to the extent of the width of their site. 5. Though the petitioner’s cinema building does not strictly fall within the definition of a multiplex, as it does not consist of at least three cinema halls, the building area of the petitioner satisfies the requirements of a multiplex complex. 6. As per the said G.O., a multiplex shall consist of a minimum built-up area of 3000 square meters. Even as seen from the licence issued by Respondent No.5 vide proceedings REV02-MGST/77/2025-MAG-CCLA, C.No.16440, dated 24.01.2026, the cinema premises comprise a built-up area of 1858 square meters for Screen No. 1 and 1858 square meters for Screen 4 No. 2. Thus, the petitioner’s cinema building satisfies more than the area requirement prescribed for a multiplex complex. 7. Incontrovertibly, the petitioner submitted a representation dated 24.01.2026 to the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Cinematography, marking copies to Respondent Nos. 3 and 4. That representation has not yet been considered by the respondents and disposed of in accordance with law. 8. In view of the fact that the petitioner’s cinema building satisfies one of the requirements of a multiplex complex theatre as defined in G.O. Ms. No. 486, dated 07.07.2007, Respondent Nos.1 to 3 are directed to consider the petitioner’s representation in light of the fulfilment of the building area requirement and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law, within a period of three (03) months. 9. With the above directions, the Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed. ________________________ Dr.Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J. Date: 18.02.2026 KMS 5 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO WRIT PETITION No.3641 of 2026 Date: 18.02.2026 KMS 50