Jabalpur, July 24: Terming as "objectionable" the singing of the national anthem in Hindi film 'Kabhi Khusi Kabhi Gham', Madhya Pradesh High Court today banned its screening till the scene is removed from the movie. In a 45-page judgement, a division bench comprising Justice Dipak Mishra and Justice A K Srivastava held that the manner in which the national anthem was sung in the film was an "insult to the anthem".

On a writ petition filed by S N Chouksey, a retired engineer, the court directed the producer and director of the film, Yash and Karan Johar, to remove the "objectionable" scene and also asked them to pay Rs 15,000 to the petitioner. The multi-starer film "would not be screened in any cinema house until and unless the objectionable scene is removed," the division bench ordered.

The petitioner had challenged the portion of the movie on the ground that the national anthem cannot be used for any commercial purpose.

There is a national anthem code listing the occasions for singing of the anthem and mentioning the manner in which it should be sung, the petitioner said. Bureau Report