In Brief
In this 2017 judgment, the Supreme Court considered an application to recall its earlier order directing the playing of the National Anthem in cinema halls. Rather than maintaining the mandatory requirement, the Court deferred the matter to the Central Government to decide the issue independently through appropriate policy instruments. The Court held that while national identity and uniformity are important, the executive—not the judiciary—is the proper authority to regulate this matter in an inclusive manner. The Court did not mandate the playing of the National Anthem, respecting India's diversity while giving the Central Government discretion to act.
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