Can relook at order on National anthem: SC

A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra hinted on Monday that it is open to modify its 2016 verdict and make it optional for playing of the National anthem in cinema halls.

The top court even asked the Centre to consider amending the national flag code for regulating the playing of national anthem in cinema halls across the country.

It said, “Why don’t you bring regulations if you want people to mandatorily stand up during the national anthem?”

Chief Justice Misra said, “it may modify its order and may replace the word “shall” with “may.” Until then the November order will be in operation”.

Supreme court had in November 2016 passed an order, saying, - “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.”

In a rare display of dissent with its order of November 2016, one of the judges on the bench, Justice DY Chandrachud, minced no words in expressing displeasure at the order that made it mandatory for cinema halls to play the Anthem before movie screenings and for people to stand in respect.

“Should we wear our patriotism on our sleeves?” he asked Attorney General KK Venugopal who supported the 2016 interim order issued on a PIL filed by a Bhopal resident.

NEW DELHI: