Mumbai: Bombay High Court on Wednesday said food items were often sold at "exorbitant" rates at multiplexes across Maharashtra and asked the state government why it could not step in and regulate prices.

A bench of Justices Ranjit More and Anuja Prabhudessai directed the state to examine the Bombay Police Act to see if it could be used to regulate rates.

"The prices of food and beverages sold in multiplexes are exorbitant. Sometimes, some food articles there are more expensive than even the movie tickets," the bench said.

"We understand if the state can't permit the public to carry food from home. But then, why can't it step in and regulate the prices of food sold inside the cinema theatres?"

The bench was hearing a public interest petition that has challenged the ban on carrying outside food items inside movie theatres and multiplexes across the state.

The petitioner, Jainendra Baxi, who filed his PIL through lawyer Aditya Pratap, claims there is no legal or statutory provision that prohibits carrying personal food articles or water inside theatres.

Advocate Pratap also told the court the Maharashtra Cinemas (Regulation) Rules prohibited hawking and selling food inside theatres and auditoriums.

The Multiplexes Owners Association, however, argued through senior counsel Iqbal Chagla that the prices were fixed by retailers and the association could not intervene.

"If I go to a five-star hotel tomorrow, I can't ask them to reduce the price of the cup of coffee that they are selling. That is because, I have made a choice to go to an expensive hotel. Similarly, one makes a choice to visit the multiplex and purchase a glass of cola for Rs 200. Now, I can't ask the cola company to reduce the price," Chagla said.

When a person buys a movie ticket, he added, it becomes part of the contract that he will not be allowed to carry outside food. "And the public is prohibited from carrying food from home because of security reasons. They are free not to purchase anything for these three hours. Since water is essential, we provide filter and RO water at the theatres for drinking free of cost," he said.

The bench, however, said that senior citizens, or those suffering from medical conditions such as diabetes, often need to eat at regular intervals and can't always have what is sold at multiplexes.

"Basically, you (the association and multiplex owners) are compelling the public to purchase and consume what you sell at a price that suits you," the bench said.

It directed the state to file an affidavit within four weeks and make clear its stand on introducing necessary regulations.