A few months after the Supreme Court issued directives over the treatment of the National Anthem in cinema halls, the highest court of the land heard a plea to frame a policy over a "national song." This time around, however, the apex court said nothing doing, pointing out that there is no concept of a "national song," The Hindureported today.
The newspaper reported that Ashwini Upadhyay, a BJP spokesperson, had petitioned the Supreme Court to direct the Centre to frame a policy to promote the National Anthem, the National Flag and a 'national song' under Article 51 of the Constitution.
Article 51A: It shall be the duty of every citizen of India (a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the national Flag and the National Anthem.
The case came before Justice Dipak Misra, who, together with Justice Amitava Roy made it mandatory for the National Anthem to be played before film screenings in cinema halls. In the present petition, however, Justice Misra pointed out that Article 51A "does not refer to a national song."
The judge however kept open the plea that schools should play the National Anthem in schools on every working day, The Hindureported.
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