GOVIND RAM SHARMA Vs. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition and eight other petitions Nos. 72, 73 and 77 to 81 and 87, all of 1960 are directed against the following order, passed by the Additional District Magistrate, Lucknow, ordering thereby to include certain additional conditions-in the licences for cinematograph exhibitions which have been granted to the various petitioners:" The following additional conditions have been imposed in the Cinematograph Licence by the Government. The local exhibitors are hereby directed to comply with them strictly with effecth from April 1, 1960:

(2.) Two consequences have followed by the ad- dition of the above conditions in the licences. Ac- cording to one no person below the age of eighteen years can be admitted on a working day to a show before 4 P. m.; this restriction will not be applicable on holidays. According to the other, juveniles below 14 years of age will not be allowed admission in the late night shows unless they are ac- companied by their guardians. Some minor restrictions also are as regards the number of shows which may be given on any working day and also that no show shall continue beyond 12-30 a. m. in the night.

(3.) The petitioner claims that the restrictions contained in the above conditions are per se unreasonable; they are not in the interest of the general public also. He is accordingly attacking their validity on the ground that they infringe the fundamental right guaranteed to him by Sub-clause (g) of Clause (1) of Article 19 of the Constitution. He is further impugning them by pointing out that Sub-section (2) of Section 5 failed to authorise the licensing authority or the State Government to impose the same. He is, therefore, asking the order of the licensing authority, by which the said conditions have been added in His licence to be quashed. He is further attacking them because in his opinion they contravened Article 14 of the Constitution.