The Greater Chennai city police have asked the public to call the helpline number 044-23452359 to lodge complaints about overpricing of tickets at cinema halls.

According to a press release from the commissioner’s office, “As per the Tamil Nadu Cinema Regulation Rules 1957, it is a crime to charge excess ticket price in theatre than the amount determined by the government.”

It is learnt that a team of officials has been formed to act on the complaints lodged at the helpline. The move by the police follows a recent order of the Madras high court.

Last month, the HC directed the Tamil Nadu government to constitute a special team to monitor the aspects of the collection of excess fares by cinema theatres.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M M Sundresh, also ordered that the public should be informed through proper publicity, a methodology of giving such complaints telephonically to facilitate information to flow to the team.