ONI Bureau: A day after the Centre wanted to do away with the SC’s mandatory order of running the National Anthem at Cinema Halls, the apex court modified the November 2016 order and ruled that it won’t be mandatory anymore.
Discretion on the national anthem issue lies with the Central government, the court said. However, the SC made it clear that if cinema halls choose to play the national anthem, the audience must stand up with the exemption for Divyangs.
The decision is a welcome relief and would put an end to the nation-wide debate on this issue. Many argued that Cinema Hall is not a place where people should be forced to feel patriotic. It’s rather a disregard to national anthem if it’s played at a place of fun and entertainment, they said.