(1) For cinema theatres or multiplex existing before the date of commencement of these rules, no cinema theatre or multiplex shall be licensed to accommodate more than twenty persons per ten square meters in the auditorium.
provided that 0.5 square meters area per person is provided for sitting after making the exclusions like area occupied by entrances, gangways, stages etc., Accordingly the licensing authority shall specify the number of persons to be admitted to the auditorium.
(2) For cinema theatres or multiplex proposed on and after the date of commencement of these rules, no cinema theatre or multiplex shall be licensed to accommodate more than twenty persons per twelve square meters in the auditorium.
provided that 0.6 square meters area per person is provided for sitting, after making the exclusions like area occupied by entrances, gangways, stages etc., Accordingly the licensing authority shall specify the number of persons to be admitted to the auditorium.
(3) The entrances, aisle, stage, stage aprons, staircases, passages, corridors shall be deducted before calculating the area available for determining the seating accommodation.
(4) The rows of the seats shall be arranged in the form of concentric areas of circles drawn with the centre located as much behind the centre of the screen as its (screen’s) distance from the auditorium rear wall.
(5) The seats shall not be too near the screen. For this purpose a line drawn in the longitudinal section of the auditorium from the eye of an observer in the front row (to be assumed at 1,066 millimeters over the floor level) to the top edge of the screen shall not form an angle of more than 35 degrees with the horizontal. A line drawn in the plan from the eye of the observer in the extreme end of the front row to the remote end of the screen shall not form an angle of less than 25 degree with the screen.
(6) The successive rows of seats away from the stage shall be so arranged as to ensure unobstructed view of the performance.
(7) In any cinema theatre or multiplex, not more than fifteen seats of one row shall have access from a side aisle and not more than five from a middle aisle.
(8) For cinema theatres or multiplex existing before the date of commencement of these rules, for each seat at least 0.50 meters width and 1.00 meters depth of the floor space shall be provided.
(9) For cinema theatres or multiplex existing from the date of commencement of these rules, for each seat at least 0.50 meters width and 1.20 meters depth of the floor space shall be provided.
(10) In all cases, there shall be an intervening space of atleast 0.5 meters between the back of one seat and the front of the seat immediately behind, measured between perpendiculars.
(11) There shall be side aisles irrespective of interior aisles. No side aisle shall be less than 0.915 meters in width and no interior aisle shall be less than 1.12 meters in width
(12) Seats shall be staggered sideways in relation to those in front so that a viewer in any row is not looking directly over the head of the person in front of him:
Provided that no staggering of seats shall be necessary if gallery type of seating arrangement is provided and unobstructed view of the performance is ensured.
(13) One door exit shall be provided for every hundred seats inclusive of the central door or doors if provided and shall be illuminated brightly.
(14) The number of persons admitted into any part of the auditorium shall not exceed the number specified in the licence for that part of the auditorium.
(15) All seats, except in the boxes, shall be battened together in complete lengths and shall be permanently fixed to the floor.
(16) There shall be no loose chairs, except in the boxes (with not more than eight seats per box) providing 0.65 square meters floor area for each chair.
(17) No chair or other obstruction shall be placed in any passage, aisle or staircase landing except to serve a barrier between, different classes in the auditorium.
(18) No person shall be permitted to sit or stand in the aisle intersecting the seating or to sit in any aisle between the screen and the last row.
(19) The middle aisle shall be connected to the side aisles by (i) one cross aisle of not less than 1.22 meters in width for every block of three hundred seats in a class; and (ii) a cross aisle of not less than 1.22 meters in width after the last row of seats in each class:
Provided that no cross aisle shall be necessary if middle aisle leads to an exit or central door without any obstruction.
(20) The licensee shall provide safe, convenient and comfortable seating arrangement and seats to the public and maintain them in good condition.