The Centre and the Supreme Court seem to be singing a different tune on playing of the national anthem in cinema halls. While the Court had imposed this rule to be followed across all cinema halls in the country, Centre has filed an affidavit before the Court stating that an Inter-Ministerial Committee formed by the Government is examining this issue and till such a decision is in place, national anthem should not be played in movie theatres.
The affidavit was filed in response to a PIl by one Shyam Narayan Chouksey who sought guidelines for playing of national anthem in public functions, sporting events, schools and official ceremonies. On November 30, 2016, the Court passed interim directions making it mandatory for cinema halls across the country to play the national anthem before start of every movie. All persons present in the hall were to stand when the anthem is played, the Court directed.
With the Court firm that anthem be played in cinema halls, the Government was granted liberty to frame guidelines in this regard. Ahead of the hearing on the matter on Tuesday, the Government filed a short response dated January 5, 2017.As regards framing of guidelines on occasions and circumstances for singing the National Anthem, the Centre said it awaited the decision of an Inter-Ministerial Committee comprising members from 10 Ministries and headed by Additional Secretary (Border Management), Ministry of Home Affairs.
This Committee, the affidavit said, will hold wide ranging consultations with stakeholders and submit a report in six months. Pursuant to the report, the Government will formulate guidelines on playing or singing of national anthem, the Centre said.
Till then, the affidavit said, “This Court may consider the restoration of the position as it stood before the order passed by the Court on November 30, 2016 to the extent that it mandates the playing of the National Anthem in all cinemas before the feature film starts.”
This is the first time the Centre has taken a stand on the issue of playing of national anthem in theatres. Though the Government was keen to implement the order of the Supreme Court, its decision to recommend the Court not to implement the order mandating playing of anthem in movie halls, appears to have come after proper application of mind.