In a landmark case that has stirred conversation about consumer rights and time management, a Bangalore man has successfully won a legal battle against PVR INOX, India’s largest cinema chain, for allegedly “wasting” his time with lengthy commercials before a movie screening. The court has ordered the cinema chain to pay significant damages for causing “mental agony” to the complainant.
Abhishek MR, 30, filed a complaint in December 2023 after purchasing three tickets for a Bollywood movie scheduled to begin at 4:05 PM. However, the film did not start until 4:30 PM due to a series of prolonged advertisements. According to Abhishek, this delay disrupted his day, as he had plans to return to work after the movie, which was originally scheduled to conclude by 6:30 PM.
The complainant argued that the extended ads caused him significant inconvenience, preventing him from attending other appointments and making arrangements that were not financially quantifiable. His complaint highlighted the 25-minute delay in the screening, which he described as a “waste of nearly 30 minutes of his time.”
In a ruling that echoes the modern-day value placed on time, the consumer court in Bangalore sided with Abhishek. The court directed PVR INOX cinemas to pay a total of Rs 1,60,000 ($1,840) in compensation. This sum includes Rs 100,000 ($1,150) in punitive damages, Rs 50,000 ($575) for the mental distress caused, and Rs 10,000 ($115) to cover the filing charges for the complaint.
The court emphasized, “In the new era, time is considered as money. Each one’s time is very precious, and no one has the right to gain benefit out of others’ time and money.” It also noted that a delay of 25 to 30 minutes is substantial, especially for individuals with tight schedules, and described the situation as “unjust and unfair” for those who arrived on time.
PVR INOX defended the delay by arguing that they were required to play government-mandated public service announcements before each movie screening. They also stated that the extra time allowed for latecomers to settle in was a contributing factor. However, the court rejected these justifications, stating that it was not reasonable to prolong the screening with commercial advertisements beyond the scheduled start time.
While the court held PVR INOX accountable for the delay and its effects, it did not hold BookMyShow, the ticket booking platform, liable. The court acknowledged that BookMyShow had no control over the advertisements shown before the movie.
This ruling marks an important victory for consumers in India, highlighting the growing recognition of time as a valuable resource and the need for businesses to respect the schedules of their patrons.
