The Central Government urged the Supreme Court to modify its earlier order which made it mandatory for cinema halls to play the national anthem before the screening of any film. It said an inter-ministerial committee has been set up as framing of guidelines describing circumstances and occasions on which the national anthem is to be played or sung, and observance of proper decorum on such occasions requires extensive consultations. The government said the apex court may “consider the restoration of status quo ante until then i.e. restoration of the position as it stood before the order passed by this court on November 30, 2016” as it mandates the playing of the National Anthem in all cinemas before the feature film starts. The SC had on November 30, 2016 mandated all movie theatres to compulsorily play the national anthem before screening a film and ensure that people stand up and pay their respect to it. This had drawn a lot of public flak post which the SC diluted the order to let the handicapped and sick sit through it. The Court however wondered allowed if it should have mandated and asked the government to take a call on it. On October 23, 2017, the SC expressed concern over the manner in which its order was being misused to dub people “anti-national”.
