The Supreme Court on Tuesday said playing the national anthem before screening movies in cinema halls is not mandatory, a day after the government asked the top court to put on hold its November 2016 order.

The SC asked the government’s inter-ministerial committee to take a comprehensive decision on what changes are required in the law and it’s executive orders related to national anthem. It said the committee will take a final call on the matter, reports the Hindustan Times.

On Monday, the government told the court it had set up an inter-ministerial committee to frame guidelines on playing the national anthem in cinemas and other public places and needed six months to finalise them.

The court on November 30, 2016, had ordered all cinemas to play the anthem before screening a film ‘for the love of the motherland’. It also said that the national flag must be displayed on the screen through the duration of the anthem and that movie-goers should stand in a show of respect.