The Supreme Court on January 9 modified its earlier order on playing of National Anthem before movie screenings in cinema halls and made it non-mandatory.
In 2016, the initial order made it compulsory to “stand up in respect” in theatres till the anthem ended.
“The practice would “instill a feeling within one, a sense of committed patriotism and nationalism,” the bench led by Justice Dipak Misra had ruled in 2016.
After an appeal to recall the order, another bench of the court, which also included Chief Justice Misra modified its last order.
“People do not need to stand up at a cinema hall to be perceived as patriotic,” the court said. It “cannot be assumed that if a person does not stand up for national anthem, then he is less patriotic,” it added.
