In a significant development, the Supreme Court today ordered that the national anthem be played in all cinema halls across the country, before the movie is played, accompanied by national flag on screen.

Acting on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking directions, the top court also stated that that everyone present in the cinema halls must rise and pay respect to the national anthem.

A bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Amitava Roy said that this would instil feeling of constitutional patriotism and nationalism. The court also directed that no commercial benefits be taken by a person by playing the anthem and there should not be dramatisation of the national anthem.

The bench in its order said that there should not be dramatisation of the anthem and it should not be printed on any “undesirable objects”. The court also barred any playing of the abridged version of the National Anthem. The order would come into force in ten days’ time.

It may be recalled that earlier all cinema halls used to play National anthem before starting of the movie. However, this practice was stopped since some time mostly since corporate sector hijacking management of theatres and culture of group theatres spreading to several places. But, in Maharastra still film theatres playing National anthem.