SC to hear PIL seeking policy to promote national anthem, song and flag

The Supreme Court on Friday will hear a plea seeking directions to the Centre for issuing a policy to promote and propagate the national anthem, national flag and national song.

The plea, which is filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, says that India is a Union of States and not an association or confederation of States.

Earlier on February 10, the top court had declined to give an urgent hearing on the plea.

The petition sought a direction to frame a national policy to promote and propagate the national anthem, national song and national flag in spirit of the Article 51A.

On November 30, a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra, in a separate plea, had ordered all cinema halls to play the national anthem before the screening of a movie.

However, later the court made an amendment saying that there is no need to compulsorily stand up when the national anthem is sung or played as part of a film or documentary.

In its earlier order, the apex court had invoked what it called "constitutional patriotism" to say that people need to stand up when the national anthem was played before screening of a film.