No need to stand up for national anthem if it is part of a film: Supreme Court

Source:- intoday.in

Modifying its earlier order ordering that everybody must stand while the national anthem is played in theatres, the Supreme Court today said the audience need not stand if the anthem is part of a film.

The apex court said the audience need not stand up when the national anthem is part of the storyline of a film, newsreel or documentary, as was seen in blockbuster Dangal recently.

It is not compulsory to sing the national anthem in cinema halls. There is also no need to stand up if it is a part of film, the apex court said.

On November 30 last year, the Supreme Court had ordered cinema halls across the nation to mandatorily play the national anthem before screening of a movie and the audience must stand and show respect.

Last week, the court refused to give an urgent hearing on a plea seeking direction for framing of a policy to promote and propagate the national anthem, national flag and national song.

“The time has come when citizens must realise they live in a nation and are duty-bound to show respect to National Anthem which is a symbol of constitutional patriotism and inherent national quality,” a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Amitava Roy had observed.