From the next week, it will be mandatory for the cinema halls to play the national anthem before screening any film. The Supreme Court on Wednesday imposed the rule as part of an order on a PIl seeking guidelines to ensure respect for the national anthem.
That is not all. Theatre owners have been directed to close the entry and exit gates of the hall before playing the anthem and even display the national Tricolour on the screen. The SC felt that such an order would “instill a feeling of committed patriotism and nationalism” among the citizens.
The order said, “All the cinema halls in India shall play the national anthem before the feature film starts and all present in the hall are obliged to stand up to show respect to the national anthem.”
This ruling is part of a slew of directions passed as an interim measure by a Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Amitava Roy till a decision is taken on the PIl filed by petitioner Shyam Narayan Chouksey. The PIl sought guidelines to be framed under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act 1971 to specify instances where the misuse of national flag will invite punishment of maximum term of three years under the Act.
Other directions contained in the order prescribe that there shall be no commercial exploitation or dramatisation of the national anthem in a variety show for pecuniary advantage. It further prohibited printing of the national anthem or any part of it on any object or place where it may be disgraceful or amount to disrespect.
Interestingly, the Centre’s response to the PIl is yet to be heard in the matter. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi appeared before the SC to place his submissions.
The court cited Article 51(A) of Constitution which states that it is the “Fundamental Duty of every citizen of India to respect the national flag and the national anthem” as part of Constitutional ideals. The SC said, “A time has come, the citizens of the country must realise that they live in a nation and are duty bound to show respect to the national anthem which is the symbol of the Constitutional patriotism and inherent national quality.”
In the past, the Supreme Court held that it is not mandatory for a citizen to sing the national anthem. So far, there was even no guideline on where it should be played and where it should not. An order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs makes it mandatory for citizens to stand when the national anthem is played but makes an exception when the same is played during screening of a documentary, newsreel or film. To this extent, the order of the court passed on Wednesday is unprecedented.
The Centre volunteered to circulate the order of the SC to all Chief Secretaries and Administrators of States and Union territories, besides giving publicity through the print and electronic media. Meanwhile, cinema hall owners have to give effect to the court’s direction within 10 days. On the PIl, hearing will continue on February 14 next year.