KATHMANDU: Patan Appellate Court has ruled that 4D simulator cinema cannot be operated without obtaining a license for the purpose.

Refusing to issue a stay order as demanded by a company running a 4D simulator cinema, the court said getting the license was mandatory since the new technology was regulated by the Film (Make, Show and Distribute) Act, 1970.

A division bench of judges Thakur Prasad Sharma and Sharada Prasad Ghimire maintained that the petitioners deserve the right to get license from the government to operate the cinema while the law requires cinemas to be registered.

Natham Lal Agrawal, on behalf of Crazy Amusement Private Limited, Kamalpokhari, had moved the court challenging the government move to ban the operation of the cinema. He sought an order against Ministry of Information and Communication, District Administration Office Kathmandu, Film Development Board and Metropolitan Police Range, Hanuman Dhoka. The authorities have accused the company of operating the cinema disregarding the applicable law. The company claimed that the 4D cinema was not a film category.