(FE)
It is no longer mandatory for cinemas to play the national anthem before every film show after the Supreme Court on Tuesday modified an earlier order and removed the compulsion. Chief Justice Dipak Misra, however, clarified that if a cinema chose to play the national anthem, people would have to stand up to show respect.
The order came after the government informed the court that it had formed a 12-member inter-ministerial committee to frame guidelines for occasions on which the national anthem is to be played or sung in theatres. Until the committee submits its recommendations, a process that is likely to take six months, it was urged that the apex court may consider restoring the position as it stood before the order was passed on 30 November 2016.
The committee will be headed by the additional secretary (border management), ministry of home affairs, and include representatives from the ministries of defence, external affairs, culture, child and women development and parliamentary affairs.
