Supreme Court insinuated to modify its November 30, 2016 order wherein court mandates people to stand up when the National Anthem is featured in cinema halls before every show. Annoting the above order Justice Chandrachud said there is no need for an Indian to “wear his patriotism on his sleeve”.
“People go to cinema for undiluted entertainment and to ease out. Tomorrow someone may say people should not come in shorts and t-shirts in cinema halls as the national anthem is played there. Where then do we draw the line. Where will this moral policing would stop?” Justice Chandrachud said.
Attorney General favored 30th November’s order ad thereby submitted that playing the National Anthem would be a “unifying force” so that “when people come out of the theatre they will believe that we are all Indians”. It is the duty of every citizen under Article 51-A (a) to abide by the Constitution, respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem.
Countering the submission by AG, Justice Chandrachud made a remark that Article 51A was very broad. Among the list of fundamental duties, the Article, for example, required the citizens to “develop scientific temper, humanism, spirit of inquiry, Are we [Supreme Court] supposed to enforce all this? As the government, you have the power. You take the call. Why should we take your burden?.
One of the intervener trying to cramp Vande Mataram in the debate, however, bench headed by CJI flatly refused interject the same in the issue before Court. As of now, interim stay has not been granted in favor of Petitioner.