SC disposes of petition against Kabhi Khushi Kabhe Gham

New Delhi, Nov 15 (UNI) The Supreme Court today disposed of a petition as infructuous seeking ban on the exhibition of Hindi movie ' Kabhi Khushi, Kabhe Gham' on the grounds that movie contained scenes showing disrespect to the National Anthem.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justices C K Thakker and R V Raveendran in its order noted that since the movie has already been released and shown all over the country, the present petition has become infructuous.

The apex court, however, left all the issues raised in the petition open.

The main objections raised in the petition are that use of National Anthem for commercial purpose was not permissible and the petitioner also objected to the audience remaining seated when the National Anthem was being sung and such attitude amounted to insulting the National Anthem.

Regarding the issue whether the audience should stand up when National Anthem is being shown in a movie, the court said that the government had already clarified that audience can remain seated as standing up of the audience during the movie may lead to disorder and chaos in the theatre and that would be insulting to the honour of the National Anthem.

The Madhya Pradesh high court had banned the release of the movie on a petition filed by one Shyam Narain Chouksey and the producer of the movie Karan Johar had challenged the judgement of the high court in the apex court.

UNI AKS/SC RP KP1927