The Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday told the Tamil Nadu government to rescind its order allowing movie theatres in the state to operate with 100% seating capacity. The ministry said that the state diluted the Centre’s December 28 order related to the functioning of theatres and multiplexes.
The state government had on Monday permitted theatres to screen movies at a 100% seating capacity. In November, they were permitted to fill up to 50% of their capacity, following the coronavirus-induced restrictions.
“The government of Tamil Nadu…has permitted to increase the seating capacity of cinema/theatres/multiplexes from existing 50% capacity to 100% by following the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP),” the circular from the Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla read. “This amounts to dilution of MHA order dated December 28, 2020 issued under the DM [Disaster Management] Act, 2005.”
The home ministry also highlighted a December 18 order of the Supreme Court to…