Two days after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami gave the nod to permit 100% seating capacity in theaters, the Union Home Secretary has directed the Tamil Nadu government to immediately issue an order to bring the state’s order in line with the MHA guidelines which permits only 50% seating capacity.
Two days after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami gave the nod to permit 100% seating capacity in theaters, the Union Home Secretary has directed the Tamil Nadu government to immediately issue an order to bring the state’s order in line with the MHA guidelines which permits only 50% seating capacity.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the TN government to withdraw its order for 100% seating in theatres and added that MHA orders around theatre and multiplex capacities should not be diluted.
The Union Home Secretary, Ajay Bhalla in his letter to Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu Shanmugam has informed that against the directives issued by MHA on December 28, 2020 regarding functioning of theatres, the TN government, however, has permitted to increase the seating capacity of cinemas theatres multiplexes from existing 50% capacity to 100% by following the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
“This amounts to dilution of MHA Order dated December 28, 2020 issued under the DM Act, 2005,” the letter states.
The guidelines reitrated that cinemas, theatres and multiplexes are permitted to function only with 50% seating capacity outside containment zones, a SOP was also released by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to reopen the theaters.
With Actor Vijay’s blockbuster "Master" and actor Silambarasan’s movie Eeswaran are lined for release during Pongal, the former met the CM in person and requested to allow 100% seating in theatres. Following which, the CM approved of the same.
The decision drew wide criticism from public, health experts and political parties who opine that the decision would pave way for spread of Covid-19.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the TN government to withdraw its order for 100% seating in theatres and added that MHA orders around theatre and multiplex capacities should not be diluted.
The Union Home Secretary, Ajay Bhalla in his letter to Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu Shanmugam has informed that against the directives issued by MHA on December 28, 2020 regarding functioning of theatres, the TN government, however, has permitted to increase the seating capacity of cinemas theatres multiplexes from existing 50% capacity to 100% by following the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
“This amounts to dilution of MHA Order dated December 28, 2020 issued under the DM Act, 2005,” the letter states.
The guidelines reitrated that cinemas, theatres and multiplexes are permitted to function only with 50% seating capacity outside containment zones, a SOP was also released by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to reopen the theaters.
With Actor Vijay’s blockbuster "Master" and actor Silambarasan’s movie Eeswaran are lined for release during Pongal, the former met the CM in person and requested to allow 100% seating in theatres. Following which, the CM approved of the same.
The decision drew wide criticism from public, health experts and political parties who opine that the decision would pave way for spread of Covid-19.