PART I INTRODUCTORY (1) These
Rules may be called the Assam Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1960. (2) They shall
apply to all exhibitions by means of cinematograph in the State of Assam. (3) They shall
come into force at once. In these Rules, unless there is anything repugnant in the
subject or context, (i) "Act"
means the Assam Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1953 ; (ii) "auditorium"
means the portion of the licensed place in which accommodation is provided for
the audience or spectators to view the cinematograph exhibition ; (iii) "enclosure"
means that portion of the licensed place in which the cinematograph apparatus
is erected ; (iv) "exit"
includes an emergency exit and any entrance useable by the public as an exit; (v) "Government"
means Government of the State of Assam ; (vi) "licence"
means a licence granted under the provisions of the Act; (vii) "licensee"
means a person who has been granted a licence and includes his agents and
managers; (viii) "person"
means any adult male or female individual and includes any company or
association or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not. There shall be four kinds of licenses, namely for (i) permanent
cinemas; (ii) temporary
indoor cinemas ; (iii) temporary
open air cinemas ; and (iv) touring
cinemas. (1) Any person
desiring to put up a building or structure to be used as a permanent cinema
house shall make an application in writing to the Licensing Authority specifying
the site where the cinema house is proposed to be put up. Each such application
shall be accompanied by (a) "No
objection certificate". A certificate from the Municipal Town Committee,
Gram Panchayat, District Council or Development Authority wherever such
authority exists having jurisdiction over the area that there is no objection
to the erection of the proposed cinema building; (b) complete
plans, elevations and sections in duplicate, of the premises and all-erections
or buildings thereon drawn correctly to the scale of one-eighth of an inch to
one foot and showing the width of all stairways, and the number of steps in
each, the width of corridors, gangways and door-ways, the height of the
galleries or tiers and the details of the cinematograph and of the plant for
the generation or conversion of electrical energy; (c) a site
plan in duplicate on a separate sheet drawn to the scale of one-fortieth of an
inch to one foot showing the position of the premises in relation to any
adjacent premises and to the public thoroughfare upon which the site of the
premises abuts, and the arrangements, proposed for the parking of motor car and
other vehicle ; (d) specifications
of the various materials proposed to be used in the construction of the
building; (2) On receipt
of the application and the plans, the Licensing Authority shall forward the
same to the Executive Engineer concerned for approval and the applicant shall
be bound to carry out such additions and alterations in the plans as may be
directed by the Executive Engineer concerned before the plans are finally
approved by him. After the plans are finally approved by the Executive
Engineer concerned, the Licensing Authority with the prior approval of the
State Government may grant in Form A appended to these Rules, a "No objection"
certificate in writing to the applicant to put up the cinema house in
accordance with the plans finally approved : Provided that such a "No objection" certificate
does by no means guarantee the issue of a cinema licence which depend on
separate application and fulfilment of the requirement of prescribed rules and
instructions : Provided further that in the case of a licence either for
temporary, open air cinema or for touring cinema, the condition of furnishing a
"No objection" certificate as required under Rule 11(2) (ii) and Rule
14 (2) (ii) respectively may be relaxed by the Licensing Authority to such
extent as may be considered necessary having due regard to the safety measures
for the spectators. (1) Every
application for the grant or renewal of licence shall be in writing and shall
be signed by the applicant and submitted to the Licensing Authority. (2) Procedure
for application.Applications for the grant as distinct from the renewal of a
permanent cinema licence shall be accompanied by (i) full
particulars regarding the ownership of, and all rights in, the premises and in
the cinematograph apparatus to be used therein; (ii) a true
copy of the 'No objection' certificate under sub-rule (2) of Rule. 4; (iii) certificate
from the Executive Engineer. P.W.D., of the area that the rules relating to the
structural features of the building have been duly complied with; (iv) certificate
from the Electricity Department of the Government that the electrical
installations conform to the required standard and the existing rules; (v) certificate
from the District Officer or any other competent authority of Public Health
Department that the arrangements for sanitation conform to the requirements of
the rules ; (vi) an
"Approved Films Exhibition Certificate" from the Officer-in-charge of
Distribution, Films Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,
Government of India to the effect that due arrangements have been made for
getting regular supply of 'approved films' for the duration of the period for which
licence is applied for ; (vii) a treasury
receipt for the payment of fees for licence at the rate prescribed ; (viii) a
clearance certificate from the Superintendent of Taxes of the area concerned to
the effect that no amount of tax due under the Assam Amusement and Betting Tax
Act, 1939, has remained unpaid. (1) A licence
for a permanent cinema may be granted by the Licensing Authority with the prior
approval of the State Government in Form B appended to these Rules. (2) No
permanent cinema house shall be allowed within a redius of one furlong from any
existing hospital, educational institution, place of public worship, cremation
ground, grave yard, cemetery or other standing permanent cinema house. (3) The
licence granted shall be valid for one year unless revoked earlier by the
Licensing Authority. It may be renewed from year to year on receipt of any
application in writing from the licence for such renewal accompanied by a fee
as provided in Rule 7, and the certificates mentioned in Rule 5. Application
for renewal shall be submitted to the Licensing Authority at least one month
before the date of expiry of the existing licence. (4) Any
licensee who fails to apply for renewal of his licence with the requisite fee
and certificates within fifteen days of the expiry of the term of the licence,
shall, at the time of his renewal be required to pay a fine of Rs. 50. A fee of Rs. 100 shall be levied for the grant of every
licence for permanent cinema for the first year and for each subsequent year,
the year being calculated from the date of the licence. A fee of Rs. 10 shall
be payable for a duplicate copy of the licence. Any person desirous of obtaining a licence for a
temporary indoor cinema shall apply in writing with the particulars and
certificates mentioned in Cls. (a), (c), (e), (f), (g) and (h) of Rule 5. to
the Licensing Authority. (1) A licence
for a temporary indoor cinema may be granted by the Licensing Authority, with
the prior approval of the State Government in Form C appended to these Rules
for a period not exceeding three months. This period may, however, be extended
for a further period of three months on application being made, before the
expiry of the current licence, fulfilling the requirements of Rule 8. (2) No licence
for temporary indoor cinemas shall be issued in respect of any structure which
is situated within a radius of one furlong from an existing hospital,
educational institution, place of public worship, cremation ground, grave yard,
cemetery [****]. A fee of Rs. 10 shall be levied for every month or part
thereof for the period for which each temporary indoor cinema licence is valid.
A fee of Rs. 2 shall be payable for a duplicate copy of the licence. (1) A person
desirous of holding a licence for a temporary open air cinema shall apply to
the Licensing Authority of the District within which it is proposed to hold the
open air shows. (2) Every
application for a temporary open air cinema licence shall be accompanied by (i) full
particulars regarding the ownership of, and all rights in the cinematograph to
be used; (ii) a true
copy of the 'No objection' certificate under sub-rule (2) of Rule 4; (in) a
treasury receipt for the payment of fees for licence at the rate prescribed;
(to) a clearance certificate from the Superintendent of Taxes of the area
concerned to the effect that no amount of tax due under the Assam Amusement and
Betting Tax Act, 1939, has remained unpaid. A licence for a temporary open air cinema may be granted
by the Licensing Authority with the prior approval of the State Government, in
Form D appended to these Rules, for a period not exceeding six months : Provided that no such cinema shows shall be allowed
within a radius of one furlong from an educational institution or place of public
worship unless shows are held as a part of any function or festival of such
educational institution or place of public worship. A fee of Rs. 5 shall be levied for every month or part
thereof for the period for which each temporary open air cinema is valid. A fee
of Re. 1 shall be payable for a duplicate copy of the licence. (1) A person
desirous of holding a licence for a touring cinema shall apply to the Licensing
Authority of the area in which it is proposed to hold the touring cinemas. (2) Every
application for a touring cinema licence shall be accompanied by (i) full
particulars regarding the ownership of, and all rights in, the cinematograph to
be used; (ii) a true
copy of the 'No objection' certificate under sub-rule (2) of Rule 4; (iii) a treasury
receipt for the payment of fees for licence at the rate prescribed; (iv) a
clearance certificate from the Superintendent of Taxes of the area concerned to
the effect that no amount of tax due under the Assam Amusement and Betting Tax
Act, 1939, has remained unpaid. A licence for a touring cinema may be granted by the
Licensing Authority with the prior approval of State Government, in Form D appended
to these Rues, for a period not exceeding six months : Provided that no such cinema shows shall be allowed
within a radius of one furlong from any existing hospital, cemetary, grave yard
or cremation ground or from an educational institution or place of public
worship unless shows are held as a part of any function or festival of such
educational institution or place of public worship. A fee of Rs. 5 shall be levied for every month or part
thereof for the period for which each touring cinema is valid : Provided that where the licence for a touring cinema is
for holding shows for the benefit of labour in industrial concerns or by
academic or cultural institutions or for exhibiting only educational films or
for the benefit of the public and not for making any profit or gain, the State
Government may exempt the levy of this license fee. A fee of Re. 1 shall be payable for a duplicate copy of
the licence. The holder of a licence for a touring cinema may shift
the venue of the exhibitions from place to place within the district of issue,
after giving due intimation of his programme and itinerary in advance to the
Licensing Authority : Provided that all the rules and safety requirements for
holding cinema shows shall be duly observed and in case where it is proposed to
install a touring cinema in a building, the provisions of Rule 8 shall be duly
complied with by the licensee ; Provided further that a touring cinema shall not be held
for more than 15 days in any particular place where no other licence is being
operated and a licence cannot be operated in more than one place at a time. If the Licensing Authority to whom an application for a
licence is made, is satisfied that all the prescribed requirements of the rules
have been fulfilled and the economy of the place justifies a cinema licence
like the one applied for and there is no objection of any kind to the grant of
a licence, it may forward the application to the State Government with its
recommendations stating the period for which and any particular conditions or
restrictions under which approval to the grant of a licence is recommended by
it. (1) The
competent officers of the P.W.D., the Electricity Department and the Public
Health Department having jurisdiction in the area shall make necessary
inspections of the premises and the building in their respective sphere of duty
for the purpose of giving the prescribed certificates. (2) Defects
revealed by such inspections shall be brought to the notice of the applicant of
licence and of the Licensing Authority which may refuse to grant or renew the
licence unless and until they are remedied to its satisfaction. (3) Fees of
Rs. 50, Rs. 25 and Rs. 20 shall be payable respectively for each of the
prescribed certificates by the Departments of Electricity, Public Health and
Public Works. A duplicate copy of these certificates may be granted on payment
of a fee of Rs. 2. (1) The
licensee shall give free access to the cinema at all hours to the officers
mentioned below : (a) The
Licensing Authority or any officer nominated by it for the purpose of carrying
out the duties of the Licensing Authority under the Act and the Rules and for
checking that the provisions of the Act, the rules framed there under and the
conditions of the licence are being duly complied with ; (b) Any Police
Officer who is required by a general or special order of the Licensing
Authority or the District Superintendent of Police to attend the same; (c) The
officers of competent jurisdiction of the Departments of Public Health, Public
Works and Electricity for the purpose of seeing that the provisions of these Rules
are being duly observed ; and (d) Regional
Officer under the Central Board of Film Censors or an officer authorised by him
in writing. (2) The
licence and the plan and description, if any, attached thereto shall be
produced on demand by the Licensing Authority or by any officer authorised by
it or by these Rules to enter a place licensed under Section 5 of the Act. The licensee, his servants and agents shall comply with
any orders issued by the Licensing Authority or by the Inspecting Officers from
time to time or as occasion arises, for the safety or convenience of the public
or for the preservation of order or of the public peace. (1) No
addition to or alteration in any portion of any premises licensed under Section
5 of the Act, necessitated by fire, any other calamity or any other cause shall
be made without the sanction of the Licensing Authority. (2) The
Licensee shall give notice in writing to the Licensing Authority of his
intention to make any such addition or alteration and such notice shall be
accompanied by complete plans, elevations and sections and specifications of
the work proposed to be executed in the manner prescribed in Rule 4. (3) The work
shall not be commenced until the consent of the Licensing Authority has been obtained
and the Licensing Authority shall not give consent unless the Executive
Engineer, P.W.D., certifies that the proposed addition or alteration is in
accordance with these Rules. (4) No
addition to or alteration of any part of the cinematograph apparatus and its
appurtenances or of the lighting or other electric arrangements shall be made
without the sanction of the Licensing Authority. The licensee shall give notice in writing to the
Licensing Authority of his intention to make any such addition or alteration
and the Licensing Authority shall not give sanction thereto unless an officer
of competent jurisdiction of the Department of Electricity certifies that the
addition or alteration is in accordance with the provisions of these Rules. PART II RULES FOR THE
LICENSING OF PERMANENT CINEMAS All buildings or other regulations for observance at
places of public amusement imposed by the municipal bye-laws or by any other
law, or by-rules under any other law, for the time being in force, shall be
strictly adhered to, so far as they are not inconsistent with these Rules. A permanent licence shall only be granted or renewed in
respect of a building which as regards its location, structure, fittings, electrical
and other equipment complies with the provisions of the rules in this Part. The floor, roof, private boxes, balconies, gallaries,
tiers, partitions, ventilators and every room, lobby, corridor, staircase and
passage devoted to the use of the public shall be constructed of fire resisting
materials. No portion of the place licensed shall be occupied or
used as a hotel, boarding or lodging house, factory, workshop or manufacture
of, for storage purposes, except as the Licensing Authority may for the time
being, allow, nor shall such place be used for residential purposes by day or
night. (a) No person
shall smoke and no holder of a cinema licence or his agent or manager shall
permit smoking in the auditorium [***]. (b) The number
of persons admitted at any time into any part of the place licensed shall not
exceed such number as may be specified in the licence. No person shall be
permitted to remain in of the intersecting gangways. In order to ensure that the maximum number is not
exceeded, and more particularly to facilitate checking at any time, the
licensee shall issue tickets bearing serial numbers and the date and the number
of the performance on the foils and counterfoils. After each performance the
ticket books shall be marked 'closed' on the last counterfoil issued. (a) The
licensee shall make arrangements to the satisfaction of the Licensing Authority
for the sale of tickets for admission. Tickets shall be numbered to correspond
to the number of the respective seat(s) in the auditorium and no more tickets
shall be sold for any performance than there are seats available. (b) The
licensee shall also make arrangements to the satisfaction of the Licensing
Authority for the orderly marshalling of persons desirous of purchasing tickets
at the licensed place. Such number of booking office windows shall be provided
in cinema houses for the sale of tickets to the public as the Licensing
Authority may determine in order to prevent congestion of entrances. (c) The
licensee shall cause to be affixed and displayed in a conspicuous manner in the
cinema premises or at the booking office a price-list showing the various rates
charged for tickets, of different classes which are kept, offered or exposed by
him for sale and also the hours of business during which such sale will be
effected and no sale shall be effected except during the hours notified : Provided that advance booking seats shall be allowed on
receipt of a reservation fee at the rate of 5 nP. for each ticket of lowest
classes and 10 nP. for ticket for upper classes and arrangements there for
shall be made by the licensee during the hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the
booking counter or any other notified place in the cinema house. (d) Every
licensee shall print or cause to be printed on the face of every ticket, pass
or other evidence of the right of admission to be sold or kept, offered or
exposed for sale, the price charged there for plus entertainment tax, if any,
and he shall at no time charge for any such ticket, pass or evidence of the
right of admission a price in excess of what is printed thereon. The rates of payment for admission to the different
classes in the licensed premises shall be determined by the Licensing Authority
and those rates shall not be increased without an order in writing by the
Licensing Authority permitting such increase. (e) Every
ticket shall be torn into two parts at the time of admission, one part thereof
shall be retained by the gate-keeper, the other part remaining with the holder. Every licensee shall, at all times, keep and maintain
full and up-to-date sets of records showing sale of ticket in each show and
their rates showing separately the taxes and fees realised and shall produce on
demand all such records for inspection by an officer deputed for the purpose by
the Licensing Authority. (a) In order
to secure the safety of the audience, the licensee or some responsible agent or
manager, duly conversant with the rules and nominated by him in writing for the
purpose shall be specially instructed by the licensee or such agent or manager
as to their respective duties in particular in relation to the carrying out of
the requirements of these Rules. Sufficient number of attendants shall remain on duty
during the whole time that the premises are open to the public. (b) All
persons responsible for or employed in connection with the exhibition shall
take all due precautions for the prevention of accidents and shall abstain from
any act whatever which tends to cause fire and is not reasonably necessary for
the purpose of the exhibition. The licensee or the agent or manager nominated
by him in writing as aforesaid shall see that the operators and every other
person who may be called upon to handle inflammable film within the building
for any purpose are fully instructed as to the dangers arising from the use of
inflammable film, the precautions to be observed to prevent risk of ignition
and the steps to be taken in the event of a film smouldering or catching fire. (a) In
addition to the normal means of entrance to the auditorium, emergency exits
shall be provided to the satisfaction of the Licensing Authority. There shall
be at least one such emergency exit. (b) Two
separate exits shall be provided to every floor or gallery and no stairways
shall discharge into a passage or corridor against or across the direction of
the exit ; provided that the Licensing Authority may accept any other
arrangements which are likely to ensure adequate safety. (c) Every exit
from the auditorium shall provide a clear opening space of not less than 7 feet
high and 5 feet wide. (d) All doors
shall open outwards and there shall be no type of fastening on any door liable
to become slipped, dropped, or secured during a performance. If the doors be
secured by locks, the lock shall be opened and the key removed during
performance. (e) The doors
when opened shall be such as not to obstruct the exit passage way on the
outside. (f) There
shall be no steps in such doorways nor shall any batten, carpet or other object
be so placed at or near any doorway as to be likely to cause stumbling. (g) No
staircase, landing lobby, corridor or passage, not being an internal passage
between rows of seats, intended for use as an exit shall be less than 5 feet
wide and there shall be no recesses or projections in the walls of such
passages, gangways or corridors within 5 feet of the ground. (h) The word
'Exit' or its vernacular equivalent shall be conspicuously fixed on the
auditorium side of each doorway. Unless the subdued lighting of the auditorium during
performance referred to in these Rules is sufficient to make these notices
clearly visible, each notice shall be lit by a special light to the satisfaction
of the Licensing Authority. (a) The
seating in the building shall be arranged so that there is free access to
exits. (b) No part of
the auditorium shall provide accommodation exclusive of passage, at a higher
scale than 20 persons per 100 square feet. (c) All seats
in the auditorium excepting those contained in private boxes shall be firmly
secured to the floor. Chairs with folding seats shall be provided wherever
required by the Licensing Authority. Where benches are provided, the benches shall have arms
suitably fixed so that each seat is separate. (d) In all
cases, there shall be a vacant space of at least one foot between the back of
one seat and the front of the seat immediately behind measured between
perpendiculars. (e) The
distance between the screen and the front row of seats should not be less than
the width of the screen itself. (a) A clear
passage or gangway shall be formed at the sides and down the centre of the
seating in every part of the auditorium, in such manner that no seat shall be
ten or more feet distant from a passage or gangway measured in the line of
seating. (b) The
central passage or gangway shall be at least 4 feet wide and those at the sides
shall be at least 3 feet wide each. (c) Where
possible, gradients or inclined planes shall be used instead of steps but no
gradients or inclined plane shall be steeper than 1 in 10. (a) There
shall be at least 2 stairways each not less than 4 feet wide to provide access
to any gallery or upper floor in the building which is intended for use by the
public. (b) All
staircases shall be constructed entirely of bricks, stone, cement or concrete
with fire-resisting roof and ceiling and shall have solid square (as
distinguished from spandrill) steps and landings of approved stone or of such
other fire-resisting material and construction as may be approved by the
Licensing Authority with treads not less than 11 inches wide and with risers of
not more than 6 inches high (each lapping at least one inch over the back edge
of the steps below it) in flights of not more than 15 or less than 3 steps. (c) The treads
and risers of steps on each flight shall be of uniform width and height. (d) A
continuous hand rail shall be fitted to each side of stairways. (a) Such arrangements
shall be made for the parking of motor cars and other vehicles in the vicinity
of the buildings as the Licensing Authority may require. (b) No vehicle
shall be parked or allowed to stand in such a way as to obstruct exits or
impede the rapid dispersal of the persons accommodated in the building in the
event of fire or panic. (a) In every
licensed place shall be kept such number of chemical extinguishers,
fire-buckets, hand pumps, blanket and other small fire appliances, as the
Licensing Authority shall direct. The licensee shall comply with all directions
issued by the Licensing Authority for the purpose of safeguarding the public in
case of fire. (b) All fire
extinguishing appliances shall at all times be maintained in proper working
order and available for instant use and all chemical fire extinguishers shall
be capable of withstanding a pressure of not less than 250 lbs. per square
inch. (c) During an
exhibition, all fire-extinguishing appliances shall be in-charge of some person
or persons specially nominated for this purpose. Such persons need not be
employed exclusively in looking after the fire appliances but they must not be
given any other work during an exhibition which would take them away from the
building or otherwise prevent them from being immediately available in case of
danger or alarm of fire. (d) The
building shall be provided with an efficient lighting conductor. (a) The
premises shall be efficiently ventilated to the satisfaction of the Licensing
Authority. The auditorium shall be thoroughly ventilated between performances. (b) Unless the
auditorium is air-conditioned the means of ventilation shall take the form of
natural ventilation and power-driven exhaust fans suitably located and of
adequate size for the purposes intended. (c) Where
natural ventilation is provided by windows or sky-lights which have to be
darkened or obscured, free permanent top ventilation shall be arranged by means
of ridge or ceiling ventilators. The clear opening of such ventilators shall
not be less than one square foot for every 10 persons that can be accommodated. (a) The
premises shall be maintained in a clean condition and the auditorium shall be
swept and cleaned between performances. (b) Spittoons.The
cinema hall shall be provided with a sufficient number of spittoons in suitable
places for use of the public. The spittoons shall contain a strong disinfectant
and shall be emptied as often as necessary. Notices for using such spittoons
shall be displayed in prominent parts of the cinema. (c) Sanitary
accommodation. Urinals and privy accommodations on the scale given below for
the seating accommodation of the auditorium and the staff shall be provided
separately for each sex with a minimum of one urinal place or utensil for every
fifty persons of each sex and one privy for every hundred persons of each sex
for whom seating accommodation is provided. In calculating the number of
conveniences required under this rule, any number of persons less than 50 shall
be reckoned as one hundred and fifty respectively : Provided that a minimum of one urinal place or utensil
and one privy shall be provided for each sex on every premises and there shall
be displayed in a conspicuous position a sign or a notice in English and in the
vernacular indicating the sex for which the convenience is provided. (i) The design
and description of every sanitary convenience in the premises shall be such as
may be approved by the public Works Department and the Public Health Department
and its construction and situation shall be subject to the approval of the
Licensing Authority. (ii) The site
or situation of every sanitary convenience shall be such that no effluvia
therefrom can arise within the rooms of the premises. (iii) No
sanitary convenience shall communicate with any room except through the open
air or through an intervening air space. (iv) Every
sanitary convenience shall be under cover and so partitioned off as to secure
privacy and shall have proper door and fastenings. The cinematograph machine shall be placed in a permanent
enclosure. Such enclosure shall be at least 10 feet in height internally from
floor to roof. If one machine is to be operated, the floor space shall not be
less than 63 square feet. If more than one machine is to be operated therein an
additional 36 square feet shall be provided for each additional machine. The
enclosure containing the cinematograph machine, in these Rules referred as
"the enclosure" shall be substantially constructed of fire resisting
materials. The entrance to the enclosure shall be through a closely
fitting self-closing door of fire-resisting material, suitably placed and
opening outwards and all openings, bushes and points shall be so constructed
and maintained as to prevent the escape of any smoke into the auditorium. This
door shall be kept closed at all times when not used for ingress or egress.
Channels of ventilation shall not be allowed to communicate direct with the
auditorium. The enclosure in which the machine is being operated shall be
provided with an opening or vent flue in its roof or upper part of its side
wall leading to the outdoor air. The vent flue shall have a minimum sectional
area of 50 square inches and shall be fire proof : Provided that when the enclosure is so built that it may
be constructed to open directly on the outside of a building through a window,
such window shall be permitted for the comfort of the operators but such
enclosure shall not be exempted from the requirements of the installation of a
vent flue (as prescribed above). The enclosure shall, unless this requirement is expressly
waived in the licence be so placed as to be outside the main building forming
the auditorium and where such auditorium consists of a structure of a temporary
or non-permanent character the enclosure shall be at a distance of not less
than 3 feet from such structure. A space of 3 feet in width at the sides and in
the front of the enclosure and a space of 6 feet at the part in which the door
is situated shall respectively be kept clear all round the enclosure. The door
shall, where possible, be at the back of the enclosure. In the front face of the enclosure there shall not be
more than three openings per projector of which the one for each projector beam
must not exceed eight inches square and the other six inches square. Each shall
be projected by a sheet of strong plate glass permanently fixed into the wall
of the enclosure. Vertical falling steel shutters shall be fixed on the
enclosure-side of each of these windows in such a way that they can be
instantly released by the operator in case of need. In addition, an automatic
thermostatically or electrically controlled releasing device may be fitted but
such device shall not prevent emergency hand operation nor the hand operated
devices prevent automatic release. Such falling shutters shall also be operable
by hand from the outside of the enclosure. No unnecessary combustible material shall be allowed
within the enclosure and all necessary combustible material, films, etc.,
except a film which is being passed through the lantern, shall be placed in an approved
fire-proof box. The latter shall be kept closed at the times except when it is
necessary to obtain or replace a film. Films which are being used at an
exhibition shall be kept in the enclosure but in no case shall a quantity of
films in excess of 80 lbs. be kept at one time in such enclosure, any excess
being stored until required, in a separate place licensed under Explosive
Rules. No smoking materials, matches or naked lights of any kind
shall be permitted within the enclosure or rewinding room. Notice to this
effect shall be posted conspicuously at every door of these enclosures and
rooms. A 'No admission to the Public' notice shall also be similarly displayed. Two liquid chemical extinguishers, two buckets of sand,
two buckets of water and a blanket shall be kept inside the enclosure. A large
sponge shall be kept in one of the buckets of water. An liquid chemical
extinguisher shall also be kept immediately outside each door to the enclosure. The management and the cinematograph operators shall take
all due precauctions for the prevention of accidents and shall abstain from any
act whatever which tends to cause fire and is not reasonably necessary for the
purpose of the exhibition ; no unauthorised person shall be allowed in the
enclosure. The enclosure shall be kept clean and a metal bin shall be provided
for waste arc-carbons. The cinematograph machine shall be placed on firm
supports of fire-resisting materials. The body of the cinematograph shall either be constructed
of metal or lined with metal and asbestos, in which case there must be an air
space between the metal and the asbestos lining. The bottom of the
cinematograph machine must form a metal tray which shall be surrounded by a
vertical edge at least one inch in depth. The cinematograph machine shall be provided with a metal
shutter which can be readily inserted between the source of light and the film
gate. This shutter shall be immediately dropped in the event of any accident to
the cinematograph machine or stoppage of the film and shall only be raised when
the film is in motion for the purpose of projection. The film gate shall be of massive construction and
provided with ample heat radiating surface and the passage for the film shall
be sufficiently narrow to prevent flame travelling upwards or downwards from
the light opening. Each cinematograph machine shall be fitted with two metal
film boxes which shall be of substantial construction and not more than 18
inches in diameter measured internally. The film shall be made to travel from
one box to the other. The boxes shall be so constructed as to close in a manner
which will prevent the ingress of fire. Spools shall be chain or grear driven and films shall be
so wound up on spools that the wound film shall not at any time reach or
project beyond the edges of the flanges of the spool. (1) The entire
electrical installation shall conform to the relevant provisions of the Indian
Electricity Act, 1910. and the rules made thereunder. The layout drawing for
the electrical installation work including the switch board shall be subject to
prior approval of the Government Electricity Department No work shall be
commenced until the sanction of the Government Electricity Department has been
obtained to what is proposed to be done. (2) The
electrical installation throughout the premises shall be subject to the
inspection by an officer of competent jurisdiction of the Department of
Electricity under the powers of the Indian Electricity Act. The instructions
and directions of the officer in accordance with the requirements of the Indian
Electricity Act and rules and of these Rules will be notified in writing to the
licensee or his agent or manager and a copy will be sent by the officer to the
Licensing Authority. There shall be no coils of slack electric cable within
the enclosure of rewinding room. The cables in those rooms shall be either in
armoured flexible covering or in high grade screwed steel conduit. The course
of each such cable shall be readily traced. The necessary pipes and cables
shall enter through efficiently bushed openings. All switchgear, fuses and apparatus shall be covered in
totally enclosed iron clad casing in accordance with the standards of the
Indian Standards Institution. All such apparatus shall be thoroughly
earthbonded in accordance with the Indian Standard Code of Practice for
electrical wiring and fittings in buildings. The requirements of Rule 55 shall apply to cables and
apparatus fitted within the enclosure and rewinding room for electric lighting
and also to any cable or apparatus used to supply electrical energy to the
Sound Production Apparatus. No electric current at a higher presure than 250 volts
shall be used within the enclosure at any time without the special written
sanction of a competent authority of the Department of Electricity. The cables for the cinematograph machine shall be taken
as a separate circuit from the source of supply and from the supply side of the
main fuse in the general lighting circuit on such premises. Efficient switches
and fuses shall be inserted at the point where the supply is taken and in
addition, an efficient double pole switch shall be fitted in the cinematograph
lamp circuit inside the enclosure. No illuminant other than electric light shall be used in
a cinematograph lantern. (a) The
general lighting of the auditorium and exit doorways and passages shall not be
controlled from within the enclosure, but a duplicate lighting system may be
controlled from the enclosure or a system permitted whereby not more than 1/3
of the general lighting is controlled from the enclosure, either system to
afford sufficient lighting for emergency exit of the audience. (b) No fans,
heaters or motors may be connected to the lighting circuits. All wall plugs and
sockets must be of 3-pin type of approved Home office hand-shield pattern and
able to be plugged in one position only. All metal clad apparatus used on the
socket must be earth bonded. The system of writing employed shall be in
accordance with the Indian Standard Code of practice for electrical writing and
fittings in buildings. (c) Every
circuit in the premises shall be identified by its description and number and
each Distribution Box shall contain, affixed within its cover, an
identification card by description and number so permitting instant
identification in emergency. (d) An
emergency lighting system consisting of colza oil lamps may be provided : provided such lamps are always kept trimmed and burning
during the whole of any performance and afford sufficient illumination in the
opinion of the competent authority of the Department of Electricity. Each
attendant shall carry an efficient electric torch or lamp. Resistance frames shall be made entirely of
fire-resisting material and shall be so constructed and maintained that no coil
or other part shll at any time become unduly heated. All resistances with the
exception of resistances for "effect" (dimming) purposes, or the
resistance for the regulation of the Motor Generator set for the control of the
supply to the Projecter Arc, if that resistance be of parallel type, shall be
placed outside the enclosure and if inside the auditorium, they shall be
adequately protected by a wire guard or other efficient means against
accidental contact. They shall not be permitted to become so heated that a
piece of dry newspaper placed in contact with any part of the resistance would
ignite. The operator shall satisfy himself before the commencement of each
performance that all cables, leads, connections and resistances are in proper
order. The resistances, if not under constant observation, shall be inspected
at least once during each performance. If any fault is detected current shall
be immediately switched off and shall remain switched off until the fault has
been remedied. Not less than three, where double machine is installed
and not less than two, in case of single projector, operators shall be engaged
in manipulating the projectors and one apprentice may be engaged for each
machine. It shall be the duty of one of the operators to take charge of the
films after they have passed over through the lantern. Each operator shall
possess a certificate granted by an officer of the Department of Electricity
not below the rank of an Inspector. Such certificate shall be issued on payment
of a fee of Rs. 20 and shall be valid for one year unless sooner revoked : Provided that an application for the renewal of an
operator's certificate shall be made at least one month before the date of the
expiry of the old one, failing which a penalty of Rs. 5 for each month of
default shall be leviable in addition to the annual renewal fee of Rs.
10. An operator shall not be granted a certificate unless (i) he
possesses a minimum general education up to Class VIII standard and has
completed two years' apprentice training in operation of Projector machine; (ii) he is
thoroughly conversant with the municipal bye-laws and other rules relating to
cinematograph exhibitions and precautions against fire ; (iii) he is
acquainted with the most speedy and effective methods of dealing with fire; (iv) he
possesses a fair knowledge of the elements of electric power, direct and
alternating current, voltage, amperage, etc., and in the case of muffasil
operators, a working knowledge of petrol and oil engines if such engines are
ever used for exhibitions; (v) he is
proficient in the handling, winding, repairing and efficient cleaning of films;
and (vi) the
certificate shall bear, affixed upon it, a certified photograph of the holder. PART III RULES FOR THE LICENSING
OF TEMPORARY AND TOURING CINEMAS The cinematograph apparatus shall have been certified to
be usable without danger by a competent authority of the Department of
Electricity within a year of the date on which the exhibition is given to the
public. The Licensing Authority may refuse a licence, or stop the
operation of the licence, for a temporory or touring cinema if in its opinion
any portion of the building or structure is in dangerous proximity to any other
building. The Licensing Authority may require an applicant for a
temporary indoor cinema to furnish such plans of the premises and such
specifications as it may consider necessary. In the case of exhibitions given in tent or booth or in
any shelter or structure composed of, or covered with combustible materials or
of a movable character, the cinematograph apparatus shall be operated from
outside such tent, booth, shelter or structure and shall be placed at a
distance of at least six feet therefrom. The auditorium shall be provided with a sufficient number
of exits suitably placed and designed to permit safe exit in case of alarm to
the satisfaction of the Licensing Authority. Such exits shall be at a
sufficient distance from the location of the projector and allied apparatus, to
allow exit without passing near the projector. A clear passage or gangway shall be kept to all such
exits. No apparatus, chairs, forms, cables or other obstacles shall be placed
in such passage or gangway. Such requirements of Rule 30 as the Licensing Authority
may require shall apply to premises used for occasional exhibitions. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing
rules, no tent, booth or similar structure shall be used for the purpose of a
cinematograph exhibition if it is enclosed by a wall or walls which do not
permit of adequate means of egress and which are erected within O feet of such
tent, booth or similar structure. (a) The
occupier of the premises on which the performance is to be given shall be
responsible for the observance of the requirements of Rs. 5 [except Cls. (b)
and (c) of sub-rule (3)], 20 and 21 in Part I of these Rules. (b) The
provisions of the rules in Part II of these Rules shall apply mutatis mutandis
to licences for temporary and touring cinemas. These rules shall be subject to conditions of every
licence and every licence shall also be issued subject to the following
conditions regarding apparatus and its operation being observed : CONDITIONS A.
(1) The projector and the illuminant shall be
entirely closed in a casing of fire-resisting material except for such openings
as are necessary for effective manipulation and ventilation. (2) Any electric wiring or terminals fitted within the
casing shall be so placed that it shall be impossible for films in use in the
projector to come in contact with them. (3) Each electric circuit on the projector shall be
fitted with a separate switch controlled from outside the casing, and so placed
as to be within reach of the operator when standing at the projector. (4) The heat of the illuminant, and its position in
relation to the optical system, shall be such that it is impossible for the
rays of light to ignite a stationary film. This requirement will be considered as met if a film
stationary in the film-gate fails to ignite within a period of three minutes. B.
(1) The projectors shall be fitted with film
boxes of the fire-resisting material, which shall be made to close in such a
manner and shall be fitted with film-slots so constructed as to prevent the
passage of flame to the interior of the box. (2) The film-boxes fitted to the projector shall be so
constructed as to be easily detachable from the apparatus. (3) All films shall be contained in film-boxes, which
shall be attachable to or removable from the projector without being opened, so
that at no time shall a film be exposed except the portion necessary for
threading up. (4) During an exhibition, not more than three film-boxes
(including the two actually attached to the projector) shall be in the
enclosure or reserved space, as the case may be, any one time. If further
film-boxes are required, they shall be kept in closed metal boxes outside the
enclosure reserved space, as the case may be, and, if in the building, in a
place approved by the Licensing Authority and subject to the prescribed
requirements as to limitations of quantity and weight. C.
(1) All electric conductors shall be of
adequate size for the current they have to carry and shall be efficiently
covered with insulating material and shall be either (i) placed out of reach of
persons in the auditorium and where they are not liable to damage, or (ii)
protected against injury by suitable castings. (2) Resistances shall be made entirely of fire-resisting
material, and shall, be so constructed and maintained that no coil or other
part at any time shall become unduly heated. If inside the auditorium, they
shall be adequately protected by a wire guard of other efficient means of
preventing accidental contact, and shall not be placed within reach of persons
in the audience. (3) The operator shall satisfy himself before the
commencement of each performance that all cables, leads, connections,
resistances and fuses are in proper working order. The resistances, if not
under constant observation, shall be inspected at least once during each
performance. If any fault is detected, current shall be immediately switched
off, and shall remain switched off, until the fault has been remedied. (4) The projector circuit shall be independently
protected by a double-pole switch and fuses properly enclosed and placed near
the source of supply or the point of connection with the general lighting
supply, as the case may be : Provided that, where the current does not exceed five
amperes and the connection of the projector circuit to the general lighting
supply is made by means of a connector as described in paragraph (5) below,
such a connector may be used in substitution for a double-pole switch, D.
Rewinding of films.No
rewinding of films shall be done within the enclosure or reserved space, as the
case may be, nor in any room or space to which the public have acces or in
which any illumination other than electric light in enclosed bulbs is employed.
Smoking in the vicinity when rewinding is prohibited. E.
Emergency lighting.An
efficient portable electric battery or torch with an efficiently protected bulb
shall be available in the reserved space and in the enclosure and the rewinding
room or space throughout the performance and previous or subsequent film
winding or rewinding processes. Such other lighting, as the Licensing Authority may
require shall be provided for the safe exit in emergency of the audience in
addition to the normal lighting system installed in the premises. F.
Location of projector and allied
apparatus. (1) No portable
apparatus shall be so placed in any auditorium or communicating passage way as
to interfere with entrance and exit of the audience nor so that any ignition of
film might prevent safe exit. The Projector shall be placed on a firm
support. (2) Amateur
Standard Apparatus. No projector other than an Amateur size projector shall be
used on any premises within the auditorium unless provided with either
permanent or temporary enclosure. (3) (i)
Reserved space. If such an Amateur size projector be worked without an enclosure,
it shall be situated within a space known as the 'Reserved Space' into which no
person other than the operators shall be allowed during an exhibition. This
space shall be ample for the operators and the necessary apparatus and safety
utensils. (ii) Fire precautions in reserved space with
Amateur Standard Projector. One bucket of sand, one bucket of water and a
blanket shall be kept within the reserved space. A large sponge shall be kept
in the bucket of water. No naked light nor any light other than an efficiently
protected electric bulb light, no matches or smoking materials shall be within
the reserved space. (4) Full size
apparatus. Such apparatus usually of 36 m/m width or over shall, if placed
within the auditorium or in any portion of the premises or where persons other
than the operators resort during performances, only be used within the approved
type of permanent enclosure for permanent cinemas or within the temporary
enclosure of condition G below : Provided that the operation of a full sized apparatus
shall not be permissible from a room adjoining an auditorium unless that room
complies in every respect with the requirements for a cinema enclosure : Provided further that the operation of a full sized
apparatus without enclosure shall be permissible from a verandah of a building
under the following conditions : (i) The
verandah be of fire-resisting material in any part within ten feet of the
apparatus. (ii) No
persons, other than the operators, are allowed on the verandah within ten feet
of the apparatus. The area so formed shall be a reserved space. (iii) The
doorway, window or other aperture through which the beam of light is protected
by securely closed throughout the exhibition with a fire-resisting screen in
which shall be not more than two orifices for the operation of the apparatus.
Such orifices shall not be larger than 8 inch by 8 inch, and each shall be
provided with a stout sheet of glass further protected by a falling shutter of
fire-resisting material in such a way that each can be instantly released by
the operator in case of need. (iv) Any other
doorway, window or aperture within ten feet of the apparatus be entirely
blocked with a fire-resisting screen in which there shall be no openings of any
description. (v) If a
doorway be blocked under the provisions of sub-cls. (iii) and (iv) above, there
shall be available other doorways in sufficient number and so placed as to
ensure ready entrance and exit of the audience from the auditorium. (vi) Fire
precautions at the projector.- No drapery and no unprotected combustible
materials other than such materials as may compose the floor shall be within
ten feet of the cinematograph, nor shall naked lights, matches or smoking
utensils or tobacco be taken within the reserved space of (ii) above. Two
chemical fire extinguishers, two buckets of water, one of which shall contain a
large sponge and a blanket shall be kept at the projector. G.
Temporary enclosure. The
requirements for a temporary enclosure are as follows : (1) Construction.A
smoke proof box constructed of sheet iron or steel on a substantial frame work
and securely fastened together. The internal height from floor to roof shall be
at least 8 feet. If one machine is to be operated the floor space shall not be
less than 48 square feet. If more than one machine is to be operated therein an
additional 24 square feet shall be provided for each additional machine. The
enclosure shall otherwise itself conform in every other respect to a permanent
enclosure : Provided that, if the temporary enclosure be kept in
"Situ" or stored on the premises and does not travel with a portable
apparatus thereby avoiding risk of breakage, such enclosure may be asbestos
sheeting or to her approved type of fire-resisting material on a substantial
fire-resisting frame work. (2) Electrical
and other accessory apparatus. All apparatus situated therein shall similarly
conform to that in a permanent enclosure, subject to such apparatus being of a
portable and not of a permanently fixed nature. (3) General
working. The requirements regarding care in working, fire-fighting appliances,
prohibition of inflammable materials, lights, matches, smoking utensils, film
rewinding and admission of the public prescribed for permanent enclosure in
permanent cinemas shall apply to temporary enclosure for occasional
exhibitions. The licensee of touring cinemas may shift the venue of
the exhibition from place to place after giving due intimation of his programme
and itinerary in advance to the Licensing Authority provided that all the rules
and safety requirements are duly observed. Where the shows are held by the management of industrial
concerns for the benefit of labour in industrial areas or by academic or
cultural institutions, [****] such shows shall not be utilised by the licensee
for making profit. PART IV (1) The
Licensing Authority may at its discretion revoke or suspend the licence granted
to any cinema within its jurisdiction if it is satisfied (a) that the licence
was obtained through fraud or misrepresentation; or (b) that the
licensee has committed a breach of any of the provisions of the Act or the
rules made thereunder or any condition or restriction contained in the licence
or of any direction issued under sub-section (2) of Section 5 of the Act; or (c) that the
building and installations are not maintained in proper order ; or (d) that the
cinema is used or conducted in a manner prejudicial to the public interest: Provided that the Licensing Authority shall give the
licensee an opportunity to show cause before taking any action under this
sub-rule. (2) Appeal
under Section 9 of the Act. Where the order suspending, cancelling or revoking
a licence under the preceding clause has been passed by a Licensing Authority
any person aggrieved by the order may, within the period prescribed under
Section 9 of the Act prefer an appeal on payment of fees of Rs. 40 and Rs. 3
for each of the permanent and temporary (including open air and touring) cinema
licences respectively to the State Government which may pass such order as it
thinks fit. The order of the State Government shall be final. The Licensing Authority may in individual cases exempt
any permanent cinema house which has been in existence before the commencement
of these Rules from any provisions of these Rules which he may find after due
enquiry to be not practicable to be complied with.THE ASSAM CINEMAS (REGULATION) RULES,
1960