NEW DELHI: The Union Home Ministry on Monday issued an advisory to the States to ensure respect during recitation of national anthem especially in cinema halls in keeping with the recent Supreme Court directive.
The Ministry has asked the States and the Union Territories to comply with the SC order relating to national anthem and take all necessary action to ensure respect to it.
In its communication to the States, the Ministry has highlighted the SC ruling and advised them that there should not be any commercial exploitation or dramatisation of national anthem. The Centre also advised that all cinema halls must show national flag on the screen while the Anthem is being played and all the entry and exit doors are shut so as to avoid any disrespect to the anthem.
The advisory further said all cinema halls in the country 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.
"… the national anthem should not be utilised by which the person involved with it either directly or indirectly shall have any commercial benefit or any other benefit," the advisory said.
The Ministry also said there shall not be dramatisation of the national anthem and it should not be included as a part of any variety show. It is because when the national anthem is sung or played it is imperative on the part of every one present to show due respect and honour.
"To think of a dramatised exhibition of the national anthem is absolutely inconceivable," it said.
The advisory comes in the wake of Supreme Court's November 30 order in response to a writ petition relating to the national anthem.
"It is because when the national anthem is sung, the concept of protocol associated with it has its inherent roots in national identity, national integrity and constitutional patriotism. The abridged version of the national anthem made by any one for whatever reason shall not be played or displayed," added the advisory.