National anthem not mandatory in cinema halls: SC

New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that playing national anthem before screening movies in cinema halls is not mandatory.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said this while modifying its November 2016 order by which the apex court had made the playing of national anthem in cinemas mandatory.
In October 2016, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the government on a plea for directions to make playing of the national anthem mandatory in all cinema halls.
On 30 November 2016, the Supreme Court ordered that the national anthem must be played in public theaters across the country before a movie, without any dramatisation. It also ordered that the national flag be shown on screen when the anthem is being played. (Agencies)