×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Cinemas must play national anthem

Last Updated 30 November 2016, 19:19 IST

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered all cinema halls in the country to play the national anthem before a movie show with the national flag on the screen. It also directed all those present in theatre to stand up to show respect during the 52-second rendition.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Amitava Roy said  time has come that the citizens of the country must realise that they live in a nation and are duty-bound to show respect to the national anthem, which is “the symbol of constitutional patriotism and inherent national quality”.

“It does not allow any different notion or the perception of individual rights; (rights) that have (been) individually thought of have no space. The idea is constitutionally impermissible,” the bench said.

Passing a slew of directions on a PIL, the bench relied upon Article 51A (fundamental duties) of the Constitution, which states that it shall be the duty of every citizen to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the national flag and the national anthem.

“Every citizen must realise first he or she is Indian and then he or she enjoys all the liberty and freedom,” the bench said.

The court said the entry and exit doors of the cinema halls shall remain closed before the national anthem is played, so that no one can create any kind of disturbance that would amount to disrespect to the national anthem. It also ordered that there should be no commercial exploitation of the national anthem.

“There shall not be dramatisation of the National Anthem and it should not be included as a part of any variety show,” the bench said, adding that its dramatised exhibition was absolutely inconceivable.

In other directions, the court said the National Anthem or its part should not be printed on any object and neither should it be displayed in such a manner that may be disgraceful to its status. “It is because when the National Anthem is sung, the concept of protocol associated with it has its inherent roots in national identity, national integrity and constitutional patriotism,” the bench said.

The court also prohibited playing or displaying any abridged version of the National Anthem. The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave 10 days time for the authorities to implement its direction for playing of the National Anthem in all cinema halls of the country, DHNS reports from New Delhi.

ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 30 November 2016, 19:19 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT