This refers to the Editorial, "Much ado about nothing" (October 27). Earlier, the national anthem used to be played after the conclusion of movies and everybody would stand up so silently that one could even hear people's breath. Many cinema halls played the anthem before screening a film and there were almost none who mocked the anthem by staying seated. Even today, barring a few, most get up to show respect to the national anthem. Though patriotism has to come from within oneself, even on occasions when standing and singing during the anthem is not obligatory, disinterested men and women take a cue from those who are quick on their feet and follow suit. Obviously, though, it would not be proper for the Government to order playing of the anthem where the chances of ignoring the order are high.
The anthem should be played befitting the sanctity of the occasion because it goes without saying that there are people who may deliberately disregard the anthem. An apex court order in 1986 had said that "the judges' personal views on the issue are irrelevant." The Supreme Court had then observed that while proper respect is shown to the anthem by standing, it will not be right to say that disrespect is shown by not joining the singing so as to constitute dishonour to Section 3 of Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. Curiously, in its 2016 judgment, the Court had vouched for the necessity to make it mandatory to play anthems in cinema theatres to instill "committed patriotism and nationalism". Since the Court has lobbed the ball back to the Centre's court, the Government has to act fast to settle the issue once and for all