New Delhi: The union ministry of home affairs (MHA) has asked the TN government to withdraw its order allowing the theatre and cinema halls to operate at 100 per cent capacity. MHA has clearly stated that it is a dilution of its order around theatre and multiplex capacities. The TN government issued the order two days.

According to the letter from union home secretary Ajay Bhalla to chief secretary of Tamil Nadu Shanmugam, capacities in theatres and multiplexes outside containment zones is set at 50 per cent. “The government of Tamil Nadu, however, has permitted to increase the seating capacity of cinemas theatres multiplexes from existing 50 per cent capacity to 100 per cent by following the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).”

“This amounts to dilution of MHA order dated December 28, 2020 issued under the DM Act, 2005,” the letter states.

The union home secretary tells the Tamil Nadu government to immediately issue an order to bring the state’s order in line with the MHA guidelines. 

The union government also instructed the state and union territories to strictly enforce the guidelines without diluting them: “strict compliance of Covid2019 -appropriate behaviour such as wearing masks, keeping social distancing, stern action against those who are violating guidelines SOPs regulation of gatherings,” he said.

As per an order in October 2020, MHA permitted the theatres to partially reopen as part of the Unlock guidelines with clear SOPs. Theatres were only permitted to reopen with 50 per cent seating capacity outside containment zones. 

Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami gave the nod to permit 100 per cent seating capacity in theaters after actor Vijay met the leader at his residence. Actor Silambarasan also requested the chief minister to allow 100 per cent seating capacity in theaters across the state ahead of the Pongal season. Actor Vijay’s film Master and actor Silambarasan’s movie Eeswaran are both slated for release during Pongal.