- National Anthem in Cinema Halls
- “Santhara”: Religious rights vs Child rights
- Friday holiday in Assam Madrassa
National Anthem in Cinema Halls
- GSM2-2016, UPSC asked about Coelho case (2007) with respect to Hardik Patel / Jat / Maratha agitation for reservation.
- Hence we’ve to prepare such SC judgements in news. This time- on national anthem 1) Bijoe Emmanuel 2) Shayam Narayan Chouksey.
But firstā¦
National Anthem āTheoryā
- National Song: Benkimchandra Chatterji’s āVande Mataramā (1896)
- National Anthem: Rabindranath Tagoreās “Jana Gana Mana” (originally written in Bengali, 1911)
- 52 seconds: full version of the Anthem (five stanzas).
- 20 seconds: Ā Short version of the Anthem with only first and last stanzas.
- When receiving foreign dignitaries in India– their national anthem played first, then Indian national anthem played.
1911 |
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1950 | Constitutional assembly adopted the Hindi version of Jana Gana Mana as “National Anthem” (24 Jan). |
1962 | Practice to play National Anthem in cinema halls at the end of the movie, to instill patriotism in the height of India-China war. |
1971 | Prevention of insult to national honor act. It prohibits desecration of country’s national symbols, including the Flag, Constitution, map and Anthem, with jailtime upto 1 year. |
1976 | Ā 42nd Amendment inserted fundamental duty Art. 51A: every citizen shallĀ respect Constitution, flag and anthem. (Swaran Singh Committee) |
1986 | Bijoe Emmanuel case: Remaining silent during anthem is also permitted under “Freedom of conscience”. |
2002 | Flag Code of India to regulate the size, display and decorum of hoisting national flag in public. |
2003 | This practice of cinema-anthem faded eventually. |
2016 | Shyam Narayan Chouksey case: SC orders playing of national anthem before start of the movie in cinema halls. |
Bijoe Emmanuel vs State of Kerala (1986): right to be silent
- Jehovah’s Witness is a sect whose belief are distinct from mainstream Christianity.
- They believe saluting a flag or singing an anthem, ascribes salvation not to God but to State / its leaders. Hence flag salute and anthem singing forbidden in their sect- be it Indian, American or British.
- In Kerala, three students from this sect, were suspended for refusing to sing the national anthem.
- Supreme court overturned the suspension because right to freedom of speech and expression included the right to remain silent [Articles 19(1)(a)] and Freedom of Conscience [Article 25].
- Since students stood up and did not disturb others from singing anthem, hence did not violate fundamental duty of respecting flag and anthem [Article 51-A(a)]
Shashi Tharoor case: freedom to put hand on heart? (2008)
- In a public function, the then minister Shashi Tharoor asked audient to put right hand on left side of chest during the anthem. (because Americans do like that during their anthem).
- Shashi Tharoor was booked under “Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act, 1977” for desecrating and interrupting the national anthem.
- 2013: court discharged him saying he did not ‘desecrate’ the anthem nor he forbid anyone from singing it.
Kaepernick Incident USA: freedom to kneel? (2016)
- Indian Fundamental rights are borrowed from USA Constitution.
- 2016: NFL player Colin Kaepernick did not stand up, but knelt during USA anthem to protest against the police atrocities on the black people.
- President Obama defended Colin’s action saying it was his Constitutional right to raise legitimate issues.
- Earlier US Supreme court declared even flag burning to be part of the constitutionally protected free speech.
Shyam Narayan Chouksey v. Union of India (2016)
- Shyam Chouksey had gone to watch Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham(K3G) but dejected to see audience did not stand up during a scene in the movie where SRK sings national anthem.
- He approached Madhya Pradesh HC. The then justice Dipak Misra order film to delete the national anthem scene.
- But SC overturned HC order.
- Years later, same Justice Dipak Misra elevated to Supreme Court.
- Same petitioner Shayam Choksey again files PIL (under Art.32) to frame guidelines on the playing of the National Anthem. Resulting into this order to play anthem before movie.
Anthem Order and Counter Views
Order of supreme court | Counter views |
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Compulsory for cinema owner to play anthem before movie. |
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compulsory for audience to stand. |
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Cinema hall’s entry and exit doors be closed while playing the National Anthem | What if fire breaks out? SC itself ordered in Uphaar tragedy that cinema doors should never be closed. |
cinema screen must show national flag image when National Anthem is being played. | specification not given- whether static image or animated clip of flag? What if there is text/advertisement/ website watermark below the flag wallpaper? |
Full version of anthem must be played (52 seconds) | Even Home ministry guidelines allow for shorter version of anthems (20 seconds) in numerous occasions. |
No person can have commercial benefit for singing anthem | Bollywood / local singer can’t get royalty for singing anthem? Is it not violating prohibition against forced labour (under Article 23)? |
No film, drama or show can have the National Anthem as part of the show. |
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National anthem or its part can’t be printed on any object. | Good step. In past, foreign companies have denigrated images of Gandhi and Indian flag by printing them on footwear. |
This is meant to instill patriotism. |
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Fundamental duty of every citizen to respect flag and anthem. |
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“Santhara”: Religious rights vs Child rights
- During the “Chaumasa” period, Jains undergo fasting (“Santhara”) to attend penance.
- They’re glorified, honored and lauded by the community and showered with gifts.
- If person dies, procession (“Shobha Yatra”) organized in grand fashion.
- 13 years Jain girl dies after 68 days fast In Hyderabad- 2016, Oct.
- Police arrests parents on NGO complaint of child abuse and negligence.
Pro- this should be allowed | Against |
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Friday holiday in Assam Madrassa
- Assam Education dept. has discontinued the weekly Friday holiday in Government run Madrassas.
- They’ve to follow the work-week like any ordinary school.
- On Friday, they’ll get 1 hr break to offer Jumma-Namaz, then have to resume work / teaching.
- Headmaster will be suspended if he doesn’t enforce this rule.
Pro-yes Friday holiday required. | Anti: Friday holiday not required. |
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Yes. Fundamental right to religious freedom, practice and propagation is guaranteed under Art. 25 |
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Communally divisive agenda will hurt the secular fabric of India. |
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“Saffronization” of education must be stopped. This is an example of “intolerance” against minorities by Assam’s BJP government. |
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Visit Mrunal.org/polity for more study material on Indian polity and governance for UPSC prelims and Mains General Studies Paper-2.
I feel like touching your feet sir.
Truly selfless effort….!!!!
Thanks a ton :-)
thanks a lot sir…… :-)
Good morning and thank you
In all the above topics, I am finding myself inclined to the anti-points…
thank you sir for important information……..
Sir ,on national flag judgement,later sc clarified that disabled as defined by disability act will be exempted from standing.
Very nice probably chance to come in 2017 mains paper 2……
sir.. one article when india year book 2017 release.. how to read ?? and what to read because year book is very bulky.it is not possible to complete..
Hats off mrunal sir….
never thought that the death of 13yr old jain girl can be linked to santhara and can be formed such a beautiful question…
Sir SPIPA se thoda time nikal ke ham logo k liye bhi daily nahi to periodically bhi kuch imp article post kar diya kariye…
THANKS.
Thanks
Sir ji..
yeah ……Sure Zahoor ..!
sir pls hindi main bhi bataya karo
thank you sir it helps a lot ..\,,/ Mrunal sir one thing please … rajtanil ma’am geography ppts and pratik sir’s lectures and ppts of history .. is this all enough and sufficient for 2017 prelims .. or a new series of lectures will come . is it ? and please sir not like last time ..please finish ppts of economics atleast 15 to 20 days before D day. no cut to cut system please … little request .. thank you Mrunal sir .
thank U sir…..we need more of ur articles
sirji sallekhana and fasting are two different issue…
thank you sir.
Which brand INDIA YEAR BOOK is good. there are so many available in market…plz advice and about buy it.
By d way SRK doesn’t sing d song in K3G ,but his reel son !
good job sir
Thanks a lot for your sincere effort to make aspirants life easy
thank you guru ji
thank you sir
Thank you sir.
Anyone knows about the notification of APFC exams f 2017???
Thanks Guru ji… indebted!
Outstanding notes sir. Really salutes
Thanks
sir make complete series on Indian polity like pratik sir history
thank u sir
thanks guru ji.