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Minister takes Collector to task

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, JAN. 30. The Education and Revenue Minister, K. Lakshmianrayanan, is locked in a tussle with the Collector, V. Candavelou, in the wake of the latter's announcement on hike in cinema ticket fares applicable for the theatres in Pondicherry and Karaikal regions with effect from Friday last.

It is the stand of the Minister that the official had without his knowledge had made the announcement. Mr. Lakshminarayanan emphasised that the revised rate should be held in abeyance. But it appears that the increase had become a fait accompli as owners of all air-conditioned and other cinemas had already enforced the new fee structures.

Mr. Lakshminarayanan, irked by `the behaviour of the Collector' had also made a representation to the Lt. Governor, M.M. Lakhera, drawing his attention to the development. Mr. Lakshminarayanan said that he would make written representations to the Lt Governor and also the Chief Minister.

As far as the revision of ticket fares in cinema halls is concerned, official sources maintained that the Collector, who is the Licensing Authority, had powers under the relevant regulations to re-fix the fares. Further there was a representation to the government from the Association of Theatre owners seeking upward revision of the fares in view of the hike in running costs of the cinemas.

The Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy, told newsmen in the meanwhile here today that the officials were fully under the control of the elected government here.

`Withdraw the fare hike'

Former Minister and member of the CPI's National Council, R. Viswanathan, today stressed that the order hiking the cinema ticket fares should be withdrawn, as there was no necessity for such a rise.

He told The Hindu today that the announcement by the Collector was a step in the wrong direction.

The tussle that the announcement had caused between the official and the Revenue Minister was no surprise.

Mr. Viswanathan wondered why the Revenue Minister had said that he would draw the attention of the Lt Governor and the Chief Minister by presenting written petitions to them against the official.

Did this mean that the Minister had no faith in the Chief Minister and hence preferred an alternative mode to make out his case, he asked.

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