New Delhi, Nov. 17: The telecom department (DoT) has asked mobile companies not to provide the National Anthem as ring back tone, which is also known as caller tune. It warned that if any company is found to provide the National Anthem as the caller tune, it will be considered as violation of the conditions of the licence agreement. The caller tune is the tune which one hears on the telephone line or mobile while making a call. These days telecom users can select caller tunes such as music, pop or Bollywood songs which are played to whosoever calls the number.
“It has been brought to the notice of DoT that service providers are providing the facility of playing the National Anthem as ring back tone. It has been reported that the provision of ring back tone as National Anthem do not comply with the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 and executive instructions relating to the National Anthem,” said the department in a notice to the telecom companies. Earlier, BSNL had objected to certain websites provision of the National Anthem as the ringtone. Legal experts also support this DoT notice. “The Prevention of Insults To National Honour Act, 1971 is a national legislation, which aims to prevent insults to national honours.”
“National anthem is the anthem of our nation, and our national honour and deserves the highest respects,” said a senior Supreme Court advocate.
“Making caller tunes out of the National Anthem makes a mockery of it as when the caller tune would play, no proper respect, expected to be accorded to the National Anthem, would be given. This explains the reason for not having caller tunes of the National Anthem,” he added.
The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 deals with the issues relating to the national flag and National Anthem.
The Act specifies that whoever intentionally prevents the singing of the National Anthem or causes disturbances to any assembly engaged in singing will be punished with imprisonment for up to three years.