People not obliged to stand up when National Anthem is played as part of a film, says SC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday clarified that people are not obliged to stand up when the National Anthem is played as and in part of a film or documentary.

Here are the highlights:

#SC sets broad parameters for detailed hearing

#SC says must have an open debate whether standing for national anthem should be made mandatory

#SC says not indulging in moral policing of any kind

#SC asks Centre whether there can be an exhaustive list of instances when National Anthem Should be played

#Centre clarifies that the current law does not cover the present situations.

#Attorney General tells SC: Law is not static it develops, the present area of law does not cover situations where one has to stand up.

On November 30 last year, the apex court had ordered that National Anthems must be played in all the cinema halls across the country before the film starts accompanied by the showing of National Flag on screen.

SC had also stated that all present in the cinema halls must rise while the National Anthem is played in order to show their respect towards it.
The court had also ordered that the full version should be played and not the edited part of the anthem. 

"People must feel this is my country and this is my motherland," a bench of justices Dipak Misra and Amitava Roy said while stressing that it is the duty of every citizen of the country to show respect to the national anthem and the flag.

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"At the root of protocol for national anthem, is respect for national identity, integrity and constitutional patriotism," the bench said while directing the Centre that the order should be given effect in a week's time and be circulated to all States and Union Territories through chief secretaries.

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