The Kerala Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1958
The Kerala Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1958
The Kerala Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1958, regulates the licensing, structural safety, and operation of movie theatres and film exhibitions throughout the state of Kerala. This law applies directly to cinema owners, operators, builders, and local government licensing authorities. It matters because it protects the general public by enforcing strict safety, convenience, and health standards in entertainment venues. Additionally, the Act empowers the state government to maintain public order by temporarily banning films that threaten peace, while also promoting civic awareness by requiring theatres to screen educational documentaries and public interest slides as a condition of their operating licenses.
- 0. Preamble
- 1. Short title, extent and commencement.
- 2. Definition.
- 3. Cinematograph exhibitions to be licensed.
- 4. Licensing authority.
- 5. Restrictions on powers of licensing authority.
- 6. Licensing authority to permit construction and reconstruction of buildings, installation of machinery, etc., for cinematograph exhibitions.
- 7. Power of Government to issue directions.
- 8. Power of licensing authority to issue directions.
- 8A. Power to enter place of cinematograph exhibition, to inspect licence or to prevent exhibition without licence or in violation of the provisions.
- 9. Power of Government of District Collector to suspend exhibition of films in certain cases.
- 10. Penalties.
- 11. Power to revoke licence.
- 12. Power to revise proceedings under the Act.
- 12A. Protection of action taken in good faith.
- 13. Power to make rules.
- 14. Power to exempt.
- 15. Repeal.
PDF: pending for this language.