FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES - NATIONAL FLAG AND NATIONAL ANTHEM

Government Brennan College in Thalassery in Kerala has published their annual magazine, which contained some objectionable hand drawn picture, which contained a scene of a couple having sex on a cinema hall seat while the national anthem is being played, with the national flag fluttering on the screen, as per the Supreme Court order. The magazine, named 'Pellet', was published by the college students union, which is headed by the Student's Federation of India (SFI) - a pro-CPI(M) students union. 



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This was possibly as a reaction to the Supreme Court order dated 30 November, 2016, which had ordered "cinema halls to mandatorily play the anthem and had directed all those present there to stand up to show respect". The court order stated that this practice would instil a feeling of committed patriotism and nationalism, amongst the citizens. 

Going a step further, the order also ordered cinema halls to display the national flag on the screen when the anthem was being played. The playing of the anthem in cinema halls, it said, was to be conceived as an opportunity for the public to express their “love for the motherland”. “It is time people feel ‘this is my country’,” Justice Misra had remarked. 

It is absolutely shocking that educated Indians could drop to such a shameful levels in living up to their responsibilities; the same educated citizens who are very quick to demand every right as guaranteed by our Constitution. It seems they do not even know their 'Fundamental Duties' as citizens of the country. The Constitution is our binding force, and has defined certain fundamental duties for every citizen, vide Article 51A. No right comes without responsibilities; this should be intuitively understood by any sane individual. However, it seems that even educated Indians don't seem to know their duties as citizens. The following is a reproduction of our Fundamental Duties as citizens, as per our Constitution.

I am not sure if the individuals who do not live up to their fundamental duties can be charged and tried in a court of law, under the said article. In case some one knows please do enlighten me too.


FUNDAMENTAL DUTIES, as per our Constitution

51A. It shall be the duty of every citizen of India — 

(a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem; 

(b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom; 

(c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India; 

(d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so; 

(e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women; 

(f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture; 

(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures; 

(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform; 

(i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence; 

(j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement;] 

(k) who is a parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years.]

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