New Delhi: The Supreme Court today clarified that people are not obliged to stand up when the National Anthem is played as part of a film or documentary.

This comes months after the apex court had ordered that National Anthem must be played in all the cinema halls across the country. Earlier, the court had also modified its order to exempt physically challenged or physically handicapped persons from standing up in cinema halls when the anthem is played.

The apex court had, in November, ordered cinema halls to mandatorily play the anthem and directed all those present there to stand up to show respect. The court had said, the practice would instill a feeling of committed patriotism and nationalism. However, the order had not specified any exemption for disabled people unable to stand up.