To stand or not to stand: The debate around the National Anthem playing in theatres continues. Now, the Centre has urged the Supreme Court to modify its earlier order to not make the playing of the National Anthem in cinema theatres mandatory.
“The court may consider restoration of status quo ante…,” an affidavit, filed by an under-secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, said, according to The Economic Times. The government will also set up a committee to review the order.
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In November 2016, the Supreme Court had issued an interim order to all cinemas to play the National Anthem before the screening of a film “in order to imbibe the love of the motherland”. The order said that all present must “stand up in respect” till the anthem ended, to “instill a feeling within one a sense of committed patriotism and nationalism.”
Later in October 2017, the apex court had stated that people needn’t stand up for the National Anthem in movie halls to prove their patriotism. Further, the Supreme Court has requested the Centre to consider amending the rules to regulate the playing of the National Anthem before a film. The Supreme Court bench had asked the Centre to take a call either way on the issue of regulating the playing of the anthem before a film.
The court had asked the Centre to consider taking a call by 9 January on amending the National Flag code for regulating the playing of National Anthem in cinema halls across the country.