New Delhi: The Supreme Court has recalled its 2016 order which made singing of the national anthem mandatory in cinema halls, but the last word on this matter will be that of the government. A 12 member inter-ministerial committee headed by B R Sharma, special secretary in the ministry of home affairs, has been formed to look into the issue of the national anthem.
The committee's mandate is to look at the 1971 Act of Prevention of Insult to National Honours, and decide if the law can remain silent on what "respect" to the national anthem, national flag, and national emblems means. The union government formed the committee after petitioners went to the Supreme Court demanding that the judiciary should legally define the word "respect."
"The committee will give recommendations regarding regulations of playing/ singing the national anthem and to suggest changes in the acts and orders relating to the Insult of National Honour Act 1971," a home ministry officer elaborated.
The first meeting of the committee is slated for January 19. The committee has members from the ministry of home, defence, external affairs, culture, women and child development, HRD, parliamentary affairs, law, information and broadcasting and department of empowerment of persons with disabilities. It has been given six months to submit its recommendations.
A 2012 guideline of MHA is likely to be the broad framework for the working of the committee since the Supreme Court in its order on Tuesday has mentioned these guidelines. The guidelines specify that those with disabilities can be exempted from standing up for the national anthem.
Meanwhile, the ministry of home affairs sent an advisory to all states and union territories, reiterating that plastic made national flags should be banned. In the last few years, MHA has sent such advisories clarifying that under the flag code, flags should be disposed-off with due respect and throwing away plastic flags constitutes disrespect under the code.
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