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You don’t have to stand up at a cinema hall to prove patriotism, says Justice Chandrachud

Published

8 years ago

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national anthem

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider a plea to modify its order that made the playing of the national anthem in cinema halls mandatory, even as the Centre opposed the move.

The apex court asked the Centre to take a call on the issue and consider amending the national flag code to regulate the matter, and frame rules by January 9.

The hearing of the case saw Justice Chandrachud making some interesting remarks on the issue after Attorney General for India KK Venugopal argued for playing of the National Anthem in cinema halls on the ground that it fosters national unity in a vast and diverse country like India, and is supported by Article 51A of the Constitution.

A Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra, now the Chief Justice of India, had on November 30, 2016 passed an order making it mandatory to play the National Anthem before every show in cinema halls and for cinema-goers to stand up while it was played. Justice Misra had reasoned that the practice would “instil a feeling of committed patriotism and nationalism”. The Bench had described the playing of the anthem in cinema halls as an opportunity for the public to express their “love for the motherland”.

On Monday, Justice DY Chandrachud questioned the rationale, saying there is no need for an Indian to “wear his patriotism on his sleeve”. Justice Chandrachud was part of a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra hearing a petition filed by Kodungalloor Film Society in Kerala to recall the November order.

“Next thing will be that people should not wear T-shirts and shorts to movies because it will amount to disrespect to the National Anthem… where do we stop this moral policing?” Justice Chandrachud said.

Media reports said that Justice Chandrachud referred to the Flag Code to observe that “there is no mandate that people should stand up when the National Anthem is sung in a cinema hall. This is obviously because a cinema hall is a place for entertainment… People go to cinema halls for undiluted entertainment. Why should we make choices for them? Why should we assume that if someone doesn’t stand up for anthem in the cinema hall, he is not patriotic?”

“You don’t have to stand up at a cinema hall to be perceived as patriotic,” Justice Chandrachud said.

At one point, Justice AM Khanwilkar reacted to lawyers’ submissions that the National Anthem is played in cinema halls in States like Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, saying if it is good for Maharashtra, it may be good for other States.

Justice Chandrachud, however, took a leaf from his childhood, remarking that he had witnessed people leaving the cinema hall when the Anthem is played after the show. “Maybe that was why it was stopped… because of the disrespect,” Justice Chandrachud said.

The judge was responding to submissions by Attorney General KK Venugopal, for the Centre, in support of the November 30, 2016 order. Venugopal submitted that playing the National Anthem in cinema halls and standing up as a mark of respect for it fosters a sense of unity in a country diverse in caste, religion and regions. The AG submitted that playing the Anthem would be a “unifying force” so that “when people come out of the theatre they will believe that we are all Indians”.

“Its purpose is the loyalty of the population, to neutralise divisiveness, foster unity in diversity. 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,” Venugopal submitted.

Justice Chandrachud disagreed. He said Article 51A is very broad and also makes it the fundamental duty of citizens to “develop scientific temper, humanism, spirit of inquiry”, etc. “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?” said Justice Chandrachud.

“If the court is supposed to enforce respect for the National Anthem on citizens, it should also enforce the other fundamental duties in Article 51A? You know what is good for the goose is also good for the gander, right?” Justice Chandrachud asked Venugopal.

When one of the lawyers said some missionary schools refused to play the National Anthem, Justice Chandrachud, who authored the majority verdict declaring privacy as a fundamental right, retorted: “I studied in a missionary school. We sang both the National Anthem and ‘Our Father’. For us both were equally important.”

Justice Chandrachud said cultural and social values are imbibed from parents and teachers and not what courts enforce through its orders.

The judge indicated that it was for the government to take the call on whether it wants the Flag Code to be amended to make it mandatory for cinema halls to play the anthem.

Towards the end of the hour-long hearing, Chief Justice Misra suggested a change in the language of the November 2016 order, which had the effect of making the playing the anthem optional, The Hindu reported.

However, Venugopal said the government would take a call. Finally, the court left it to the discretion of the government to bring out any notification, if necessary, to take a call to make or not make the playing of the National Anthem mandatory in cinema halls, uninfluenced by the Court’s earlier order.

The case was posted for hearing on January 9, 2018.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Lok Sabha clears bill to levy cess on pan masala and similar goods for health, security funding

The Lok Sabha has passed a bill to impose a cess on pan masala manufacturing units, aiming to create a dedicated revenue source for public health and national security initiatives.

Published

60 mins ago

on

December 5, 2025

By

Nirmala Sitharaman

The Lok Sabha has approved the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025, paving the way for a new cess on pan masala manufacturing units. The legislation aims to generate dedicated funds for strengthening national security and improving public health, both areas identified as critical national priorities.

Bill aims to create predictable funding stream

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, responding to the debate before the bill was passed by voice vote, said that the cess will be shared with states because public health falls under the state list.

The new cess will be applied over and above the GST, based on production capacity and machinery used in units manufacturing pan masala and similar goods. The minister clarified that this cess will not affect GST revenue, and that pan masala already attracts the maximum GST slab of 40 per cent.

According to the bill text, the objective is to build a “dedicated and predictable resource stream” to support expenditure related to health and national security.

Sitharaman also mentioned that cess collection as a percentage of gross total revenue currently stands at 6.1 per cent, lower than the 7 per cent average between 2010 and 2014.

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India News

Simone Tata passes away at 95: A look at the visionary who shaped Lakme and modern retail

Simone Tata, the pioneering business leader who built Lakme and helped shape India’s modern retail sector, passed away at 95. Here’s a look at her legacy.

Published

1 hour ago

on

December 5, 2025

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simone tata

Ratan Tata’s stepmother and celebrated business leader Simone Tata passed away on December 5, 2025, at the age of 95. Known for her pioneering role in building Lakme and transforming India’s retail landscape, she leaves behind a remarkable legacy that redefined Indian consumer culture.

A legacy that shaped Indian business

Simone Tata, born in Geneva in 1930, first came to India at the age of 23. Two years later, in 1955, she married Naval H. Tata and gradually became an integral part of the Tata family’s business vision. Her journey with the Tata Group began in the 1960s, when she was appointed to Lakme—then under Tata Oil Mills.

Under her leadership, Lakme quickly grew into one of India’s most trusted cosmetic brands. She rose to the position of managing director and later chairperson, introducing global formulations and modernising beauty products for the Indian market. Lakme’s rise was also rooted in a strong national vision—launched on former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s suggestion to reduce foreign exchange spent on imported makeup.

Transforming retail through Trent and Westside

After Lakme was sold to Hindustan Lever Limited in 1966, Simone moved to Trent, where she helped build one of India’s earliest modern retail chains. This later gave birth to Westside, a brand that has become synonymous with contemporary Indian shopping culture.

She also played a key role in philanthropic initiatives, guiding organisations such as the Sir Ratan Tata Institute and supporting cultural and children-focused foundations.

Family, personal life and final farewell

Simone Tata is survived by her son Noel, daughter-in-law Aloo Mistry, and grandchildren Neville, Maya and Leah. She also drew public attention in recent years for being the only member of the Tata family to attend Cyrus Mistry’s funeral, despite the widely known strained ties between the families.

Her funeral will take place on Saturday morning at the Cathedral of the Holy Name Church in Colaba, Mumbai.

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India News

Centre orders probe into IndiGo crisis, expects normal flight operations in three days

Amid record cancellations by IndiGo, the Centre has ordered a high-level inquiry and expects flight schedules to stabilise by Saturday, with full normalcy in three days.

Published

1 hour ago

on

December 5, 2025

By

indigo

The Centre has initiated a high-level inquiry into the massive disruption of IndiGo’s operations, with the government projecting that flight schedules will begin stabilising by Saturday and full normalisation is expected within three days. The announcement comes as cancellations by the airline crossed 500 for the second consecutive day, severely impacting passengers across major airports.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the government has directed urgent measures to ensure swift restoration of services. Within minutes of his statement, the aviation regulator DGCA announced the formation of a four-member committee to examine the circumstances leading to the delays and cancellations.

DGCA forms committee as cancellations spark scrutiny

The DGCA said IndiGo was given sufficient time to implement revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), yet the airline recorded the highest number of cancellations in November. The regulator added that the pattern suggested gaps in the carrier’s internal oversight and preparedness, warranting an independent probe.

The committee will review the sequence of events that triggered disruptions and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.

Flight duty rules relaxed; minister defends move

Amid criticism from the Opposition and experts, the DGCA temporarily suspended certain FDTL rules, increasing pilot duty limits from 12 to 14 hours. The changes were widely questioned, with allegations that the government was yielding to pressure from IndiGo.

Naidu defended the decision, stating the move was taken solely to safeguard passengers and that safety standards would not be compromised.
He reiterated that passenger care and convenience remain the top priority.

Assurance of refunds, real-time updates, and support

Highlighting steps taken to ease passenger distress, the minister said airlines must:

  • Provide accurate, real-time updates before travellers leave for airports
  • Initiate automatic refunds for cancelled flights without requiring follow-ups
  • Arrange hotel accommodation for passengers stranded for extended periods

Senior citizens and persons with disabilities have been accorded special priority, including access to lounges and additional assistance. Refreshments and essential services are to be provided to all affected travellers.

Inquiry to determine accountability

The government said the high-level probe will identify what went wrong at IndiGo, establish responsibility, and recommend systemic corrections to ensure such disruptions do not occur again.

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