Kerala authorities have registered 26 cases and issued five show-cause notices against cinema theatres across the state after joint surprise inspections found short-weight food packets, incomplete labelling, hygiene violations, missing bills and inadequate access to drinking water.
The inspections were conducted by the legal metrology, food safety and civil supplies departments on the instructions of minister Anoop Jacob, following complaints from cinema-goers. The checks formed the second phase of follow-up inspections linked to inspections conducted last month. Fines totalling Rs 62,000 were imposed during the latest action, according to the report by Times of India.
The findings included repeated discrepancies between the quantities printed on food packages and the quantities sold. At Mallika Plex Theatre in Feroke, Cheruvannur, a 60g popcorn packet was found to contain 7.5g less than the declared quantity. In Kannur, Archana Complex in Payyanur was fined Rs 10,000 after popcorn sold as 65g weighed 52g. At AK Cine Palace in Cherupuzha, a packet labelled as 60g weighed 42g, resulting in a Rs 5,000 fine. At Dev Cinemas in Kanichar, popcorn marked as 50g was also found to be short-weight.
The largest fine reported in the inspections was imposed on Matha-Madhurya Theatre in Aluva, Ernakulam. Tea sold as 210ml measured only 130ml, while popcorn priced at Rs 120 and expected to weigh 50g weighed 16g. Cheese popcorn priced at Rs 150 weighed 70g against the declared quantity of 80g. The theatre was fined Rs 25,000 and instructed by the civil supplies department to keep drinking water in a visible location.
Similar issues were reported in other districts. At Dhanya Ramya Theatre in Kottayam, popcorn sold as 55g weighed 48.6g, while a 40g pack weighed 34.8g. A case was registered and a fine of Rs 5,000 imposed. Notices were issued to Anupama Theatre and Velvet View Theatre in Kumarakom for using non-standard measurements. In Kollam, coffee sold as 130ml at the stall of Usha A/C Cinema Theatre in Chinnakkada contained 92ml. Authorities also cited incomplete label details and failure to issue bills.
The inspections covered theatres in several districts, including Kozhikode, Kannur, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Kollam, Palakkad, Malappuram and Thrissur. Legal metrology officials also found weighing instruments that had not been verified or sealed on time at theatres in Kannur, Alappuzha and Thrissur. At C Cinemas in Chengannur, a case was registered and a Rs 2,000 fine imposed over an instrument that had not been sealed on time.
Food safety cases were registered over unhygienic storage, incomplete label information, failure to renew licences, and the absence of required medical certificates for food-handling workers. In Malappuram, inspections also found that workers were not wearing head caps. The civil supplies department directed one establishment to display its price list and arrange drinking water outside the theatre hall. The inspection report said no irregularities were detected in the other districts covered by the exercise.
