Licence to cinema halls by Delhi govt or police: plea in HC

A plea was today moved in Delhi High Court challenging a city government notification directing that cinema halls would be granted licenses by district commissioners of revenue department.
The petition, filed by an association representing cinema hall owners, was listed before Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw who was of the view that the controversy in the matter pertaining to powers of Delhi government was before a bench headed by Chief Justice G Rohini.
Justice Endlaw, thereafter, asked the high court registry to list the petition before the bench of Chief Justice on November 16 when the other matters pertaining to the tussle between Delhi government and Centre over Lt Governor's powers are listed for hearing.

During brief arguments, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Singh, appearing for Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Delhi Police, said that Delhi was a Union Territory (UT) akin to a presidency town, and the licensing powers here vested with the Commissioner of Police as per the Cinematograph Act.
He said the Delhi government, being a UT, cannot appoint a licensing authority. He also argued that the Lt Governor was "separate" from the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD).
The association has challenged a January 9 notification issued by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, prior to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) coming to power, appointing the deputy commissioners (revenue) of all revenue districts in Delhi as the licensing authorities for city cinema halls.

The association has decided to challenge the notification now as both the revenue department and the Delhi police has sent them letters informing that they would be carrying out inspections of the cinema halls.