The Supreme Court today directed that the national anthem be played in cinema halls across the country before the screening of a film and people in cinema halls should stand up when the anthem is played and the National Flag be shown on the screen at the time. It said, there should not be any dramatisation of the anthem and it should not be printed or displayed on undesirable objects.

The court also said, a person cannot take commercial benefits by playing the anthem. The apex court directed the Centre that the order should be given effect in a week’s time and be circulated to all the States and Union Territories.