SC order on national anthem: Five things to know

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a slew of directions on when and how the national anthem must be played.

The directions were passed by a bench headed by justice Dipak Misra in a public interest litigation filed by advocate Shyam Narayan Chouksey.

•The court has directed all movie halls and theatres to play the national anthem before the start of a play, movie or any other programme.

• The court ordered that those present in the auditoriums must pay respect to the national anthem, according to Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.

• The national anthem cannot be commercially expropriated. The full version has to be played and not any abridged version.

• The national anthem cannot be used in any commercial activity like in an entertainment venture.

•The national anthem cannot be printed on any ‘undesirable object’ where its dignity can be compromised.

The apex court also asked the states and union territories to implement the order within a week.

The case will be heard next on 14 February.

PTI contributed to this story