The Supreme Court today modified its order to clarify that it is not mandatory for the audience to stand when the National Anthem is played as a part of a film, newsreel or documentary.
The court, however, said that people must stand up and pay respect to the National Anthem when it is played ahead of the screening of a film or documentary.
The court today also exempted differently-able people from its order.
The court had in November last year passed an order making it mandatory for cinema halls across the country to play the National Anthem before the screening of a film. It had also ordered that the Tricolour must be displayed on the screens at the time of National Anthem.
The court had then said that ‘the order was delivered to reduce instances of people showing disrespect to the National Anthem’.
The court’s order had created a stir with many alleging that ‘patriotism can be forced down anybody's throat’.
The Home Ministry had also released a list of guidelines for cinema halls that should be followed during National Anthem.
The Supreme Court today modified its order to clarify that it is not mandatory for the audience to stand when the National Anthem is played as a part of a film, newsreel or documentary.
The court, however, said that people must stand up and pay respect to the National Anthem when it is played ahead of the screening of a film or documentary.
The court today also exempted differently-able people from its order.
The court had in November last year passed an order making it mandatory for cinema halls across the country to play the National Anthem before the screening of a film. It had also ordered that the Tricolour must be displayed on the screens at the time of National Anthem.
The court had then said that ‘the order was delivered to reduce instances of people showing disrespect to the National Anthem’.
The court’s order had created a stir with many alleging that ‘patriotism can be forced down anybody's throat’.
The Home Ministry had also released a list of guidelines for cinema halls that should be followed during National Anthem.
