Verdict Background

The case started about a year ago when the complainant had gone to a cinema hall and was stopped by their staff from carrying drinking water inside. As stated by the complainant, neither the ticket contained any prohibition on carrying water inside the cinema hall, nor was there any sign around the hall stating that water was not allowed. When forced to give away their water, the complainant reached the district forum alleging deficiency in services and adoption of unfair trade practice on the part of the cinema hall owners, and sought compensation.

The cinema hall owners replied with the plea that carrying water inside the hall was restricted for security reasons since it was not possible for the management to verify or check whether any restricted liquid had been mixed

In common parlance, beverages comprise juices, soft drinks, and carbonated drinks that have some form of water in them, but plain water is often not classified as a beverage. Hence, the Commission maintained that water was not a beverage and so the communication on the ticket did not justify the petitioner’s claim.