Officials in soup as exhibitors violate HC order and collect levy from Kochadiyan viewers

Chennai:

A contempt petition has been moved against top officials of Commercial
Taxes and Registration department after film exhibitors and
authorities started collecting levy from the viewers of Rajinikanth's
latest film "Kochadaiyaan" despite Madras High Court direction not to
do so.

Hearing a petition filed by S Muthiah, the High Court bench comprising
of Acting chief justice of Madras High Court Satish K Agnihotri and
Justice M M Sundaresh granted one week time to S K Prabakar, principal
secretary of commercial taxes and registration department and
commercial taxes commissioner K Rajaraman to affidavit of compliance.

Muthiah in his petition has stated that except group of  Devi Theatres
situated in Chennai no other owners have shown any regard to the High
court order to not to collect any levy from viewers.

Muthiah said that the issue involved in this case is collection of
revenue for the benefit of government as well as public. Hence, the
administrative heads of the department has to be very clear and see
that there is no loss to the government. “But in this case, they are
not bothered about the revenue of the government,” he stated.

Alleging that the officials knowingly contravened the order of High
court, the petitioner said if the administrative head has no respect
for the order of high court then who will give respect to the court.