The Supreme Court today directed that the national anthem be played in cinema halls across the country before film screening.
In its order, an apex court bench of justices Dipak Misra and Amitava Roy said that the tricolour should be displayed on the screens at the time of national anthem.
It further stated that everyone present in cinema hall should rise up and pay respect to the national anthem. The top court further directed the Centre that the order be given effect in a week's time and be circulated to all the states and UTs.
The Centre agreed to circulate the order to Chief Secretaries of all states and also to publicize it on electronic and print media.
“It is the duty of every citizen to abide by the ideals ingrained in the Constitution and as such show respect to the national anthem and the national flag,” the court observed.
“This will instill feeling of constitutional patriotism and nationalism. Time has come for people to realise that the national anthem is a symbol of Constitutional patriotism. It is now mandatory that all present inside the theatre should stand up as a sign of respect while the anthem is played,” the bench said.
“Who are you? If you are a citizen of this country, you must not feel any difficulty in standing during the national anthem,” it added in its order.
It also directed that the national anthem must not be printed on any undesirable item.
“There should not be any commercial exploitation of the national anthem,” the court said.
The apex court passed orders while acting on a PIL seeking directions for playing the national anthem in cinema halls before a movie begins. The petitioner had also urged to court to fix proper norms and protocol regarding its playing and singing at official functions, programmes where constitutional dignitaries are present.
