The Supreme Court modifies its order on the national anthem played in cinema halls, says it is not mandatory. The initial order, issued in November 2016, said all those present in theatres must "stand up in respect" 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, who later became the Chief Justice of India, had ruled.


The central government, which had earlier backed the Supreme Court order making it mandatory to play the National Anthem just before the screening of a film, had yesterday urged the apex court to take back its order on the grounds that it had set up a committee to look into the issue.

The government has said it doesn't want to be prejudiced by the court's views on the subject.