'Do people have to stand in theatres to prove patriotism?': SC judge slams government

“Do people need to stand up in theatres to show our patriotism?” That’s the question Justice DY Chandrachud asked in the Supreme Court on Monday, while hearing the national anthem case.

The judge was part of a three-judge bench comprising of himself, CJI Dipak Misra and Justice AM Khanwilkar. During the hearing, the government replied in court saying that the national anthem needs to be played in cinema halls to bring uniformity in a diverse country. Attorney General K K Venugopal represented the Centre in court.

Bar and Bench reported that CU Singh, a senior advocate appearing for a film society, questioned why the court should interfere in the case now, especially that “there is a regime in place regarding this since 2005 which is continuing.”

Lashing out at the government for supporting the SC order which made it compulsory to stand up for the anthem, Justice Chandrachud said that the government should take its own stand on whether people should stand up for the anthem. He gave them time until January 2018.

According to Bhadra Sinha of Hindustan Times, Justice Chandrachud said that people go to cinema halls for entertainment, and that the society needs entertainment and not moral policing.

According to tweets by Krishnadas Rajagopal of The Hindu, Justice Chandrachud questioned where the moral policing would stop, as the government may soon ask people to wear T-shirts and shorts because it may be disrespectful to the anthem too.



LiveLaw reported that the Supreme Court hinted at recalling its order, and that it is up to the government to decide.



It has been over a year since the order came into existence, and the SC has agreed to re-examine its order, reported The Times of India.

The case was heard for an hour and a half in the Supreme Court on Monday. The next hearing will reportedly be January 9, 2018.

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