On Tuesday, the Supreme Court exempted six categories of disabled people from standing when the national anthem is played before the screening of a film in theatres, reported ANI.
There have been instances reported earlier of people with disabilities being heckled at cinema halls for not standing during the national anthem.
Also Read: World Disability Day: SC’s Anthem Order Restricts My Freedom
The apex court has also sought response from the Centre, in four weeks, on a plea seeking framing of a policy for promoting the national anthem and the national song.
A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra issued notice and asked the Centre to file its reply on the plea which also sought to ascertain the feasibility of singing the national anthem and the national song in Parliament, assemblies, courts, schools and colleges on working days.
The apex court had earlier refused to go into the debate for making singing of the national song mandatory in schools and clarified that it has "kept alive" such a plea only for the national anthem without expressing any view on it.
On 30 November last year, the Supreme Court had ordered cinema halls across the nation to play the national anthem before screening of a movie when the audience must stand and show respect.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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