New Delhi, Dec 3 (DHNS): The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a plea by an advocate to play the national anthem not only in cinema halls but also in courts across the country before the start of the proceedings.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Amitava Roy told advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay not to “overstretch” the order passed on Wednesday. “Whether right or wrong, we have already passed our order...it cannot be overstretched now. We are not inclined,” the bench said.

When Upadhyay said the court order was “great” and “historic” and it should be emulated in the courts also, the bench said, “You don’t have to put adjectives. We have already passed our order and it was in connection with a specific petition.”

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who was called as Upadhyay mentioned his plea, supported the court’s view.

He also said the application filed by the lawyer was not in appropriate format. The bench said the bar should show some restraint and try not to stretch it too far. Upadhyay submitted that he would file a separate petition with this plea but the court said it would not want to comment on it.

The apex court had on Wednesday directed all the cinema halls of the country to play the national anthem with national flag on screen in order to instil “committed patriotism and nationalism”.

The court also ordered those present in theatres to stand up to show respect when the national anthem is played.