TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ Supreme Court ordered that National Anthem must be played at theaters before movie begins. Issuing a slew of directive, Supreme Court made playing of National Anthem in cinema halls mandatory. The National Anthem would be accompanied by the image of the Tricolor on the screen. The apex court also stated that everyone present in the cinema halls must rise and pay respect to the National Anthem.
The Supreme Court directed the Centre to circulate the order to all States’ Chief Secretaries and also to publish it on electronic and print media regarding its order on National Anthem in theaters. The apex court directed that no commercial benefits be taken by a person by playing the National Anthem. There should not be dramatisation of the National Anthem and it should not be printed or displayed on undesirable objects, said the court.
Supreme Court’s directive on National Anthem came in response to a plea seeking directions and protocol on playing the anthem in movie halls before a film is screened. On October 31, the court had asked the Centre to specify what would constitute disrespect to the anthem and its abuse.
