National Anthem In Cinema Halls Accepting the petition filed by Shyam Narayan Choukse, The Supreme Court today directed Cinema Halls to play the Indian National Anthem in the theatres before screening the movies. It also upheld that the national flag should be shown on the screen and everyone should stand during the national anthem except those who cannot stand.

Shyam Narayan Choukse, who runs an NGO in Bhopal, went to watch a movie in a theatre. At one point during the movie, the national anthem was played. He promptly stood up, but was shocked to see that no one else did. They didn’t even stop eating or talking as a mark of respect. Even after he urged others to stand, nobody did.

Mr Choukse then filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Jabalpur High Court. The High Court banned the screening of the film until the sequence with the national anthem was deleted. The Supreme Court suspended the ban by the High Court in September 2003.

Now, in 2016 the Supreme Court has made it mandatory for all cinema halls to play the national anthem at the beginning of the movie.

“People nowadays don’t know the national anthem, and it is time people must be taught. We must respect our national anthem.” the court said. It also further added that national anthem must not be played during entertainment shows on TV and it should not be printed on any “undesirable place” either, as reported by The Times of India.

The Center has circulated the order to all the chief secretaries of the state.