Chandigarh: When catching a movie at a famed city cinema turned into a three-hour ordeal -- courtesy uncomfortable seats -- JK Babbar of Sector 55 wasn't going to take it lying down. A lawyer himself, he dragged Piccadily to UT Consumer Commission, which directed the theatre to cough up Rs 10,000 as compensation for the inconvenience caused.

While also awarding Rs 1,000 as litigation costs to the petitioner, the commission headed by justice KC Gupta said, "Officials... of UT administration are directed to ensure due compliance with directions for removal of deficiencies in facilities/services availed of by innumerable consumers. The cinema hall is directed to get seats repaired so as to make them comfortable enough, sparing consumers the ordeal of watching a movie on torn seats after paying due charges."

Moving an appeal under the Consumer Protection Act, Babbar -- who had bought two upper stall tickets for Rs 80 to watch Partner with his wife at Piccadily Cinema Hall in July 2007 -- stated, "As the cover of the seat allotted to me was completely torn on the upper side, some protruding nails on the chair even tore my shirt. The seats were uncomfortable and not properly balanced... and it was an ordeal... to sit through three hours." The lawyer also claimed he was charged for the upper stall but allotted lower stall seats. Despite being served a notice, Piccadily authorities failed to come for an appearance and the proceedings were ex parte.

Accepting Babbar's complaint, the commission directed Piccadily to pay Rs 10,000 for causing harassment and inconvenience with "uncomfortable, unbalanced and torn seats". Earlier, the district forum had allowed the complaint by asking the cinema to refund Rs 80 in May 2008, but Babbar filed an amount enhancement appeal.

According to UT administration rules, the license for operating a hall can be granted only after fulfilment of mandatory conditions like proper seats, water and washroom facilities. In case of infringement of any of these conditions, the cinema's license is liable to be cancelled.