Delhi HC seeks directions from government on playing of national anthem in cinema halls
Delhi HC issued notice to the government on a plea for directions to make playing of the national anthem mandatory in all theatres before movie shows.
New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre and Delhi government on a plea for directions to make playing of the national anthem mandatory in all cinema halls/theatres before movie shows.
Understanding nationalism. AFP
A division bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal asked the central and Delhi governments to file their response on the Public Interest Litigation.
The plea, moved by law graduate Harsh Nagar, asked the court to issue guidelines with appropriate clarification as to where and on what occasions the national anthem can be sung or played.
The petition has said Maharashtra, Goa and several southern states have the practice of playing the national anthem in cinema halls.
The plea observed that a few decades ago it was mandatory to play the national anthem at the end of the screening of a movie.
However, in a rush to leave the theatre, members of the audience did not stand still and thus it was considered disrespect to the national anthem. This patriotic ritual faded with time and was completely stopped after a while, the plea added.
The court posted the matter for 14 December.
also read
PM-CARES Fund not a fund of Government of India, Centre informs Delhi HC
The submission was made in response to a petition seeking that PM-CARES Fund be declared as ‘The State’ under Article 12 of the Constitution.
HC asks Centre to conduct inquiry into allegations against Table Tennis body by Manika Batra
Justice Rekha Palli further said that if warranted, the Union Sports Ministry may look into the affairs of the TTFI as well.
Marriages can be registered in virtual presence of parties, rules Delhi High Court
The court said that in the present times, citizens cannot be prevented from exercising their rights because of a rigid interpretation of a law that calls for "personal presence".