No exemption for IFFK in its order on national anthem: SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has made it clear that there won’t be any exemption for the International Film Festival of Kerala(IFFK) in its order on the national anthem.

The apex court also said its order that the differently abled person do not need to stand up while the national anthem is being played.

The court had recently directed that cinema halls across the country must play the national anthem before the screening of a film and people should stand up as a mark of respect.

The national flag should be shown on screen when the anthem is played, a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Amitava Roy had said while stressing that it is the duty of every citizen to show respect to the national anthem and the flag.

The court’s directions came on a PIL by Shyam Narayan Chouksey, seeking directions that the national anthem be played in cinema halls across the country before a film begins and proper norms and protocol be fixed regarding its playing and singing at official functions and the programmes where constitutional dignitaries are present.

“The Supreme Court directive is applicable to all. So the national anthem will be played. But we will think of asking for an exemption. Because during the festival, films are screened before the same audience,” Chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Kamal had said.

Academy Vice Chairperson Bina Paul Venugopal had said, “In the wake of the present verdict, we may have to go to the court and ask whether it is necessary to play the national anthem before every show during the festival.”

The 21st edition of IFFK will get underway here from December 9-16.