India, July 11 -- The Bombay high court on Thursday struck down a decade-old Maharashtra government order that barred cinema halls from levying convenience fees on online ticket bookings, ruling that the move infringed upon the fundamental right to carry on business.

A division bench of Justice Mahesh Sonak and Justice Jitendra Jain held that the April 4, 2013 order issued by the Revenue Commissioner - and a follow-up order dated March 18, 2014 - lacked statutory backing and violated Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution, which guarantees citizens the freedom to practise any profession or carry on any trade or business.

"The impugned GO transgressed the fundamental rights under Article 19(1)(g) granted to the petitioners by prohibiting t...