New Delhi, Feb 4: The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition seeking prosecution of Infosys promoter and Padma Vibhushan awardee N R Narayana Murthy for allegedly insulting National Anthem during the inauguration of the largest corporate education centre in Mysore, Karnataka on April 8, 2007 which was attended by the then President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam and some foreign dignitaries.

Narayana Murthy had cancelled the singing of National Anthem as some foreign dignitaries were present on the dias. A Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices C K Thakkar and R V Raveendran refused to interfere with the Karnataka High Court order quashing the criminal proceeding pending against Narayana Murthy in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Mysore.

Following media reports of insult to National Anthem, Narayana Murthy had tendered a public apology. Petitioner, Kannadda Rakshana Vakeelara Vedeke, a registered body, in its complaint had sought the prosecution of the accused under Section 3 of the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act, 1971 alleging that the cancellation of singing of National Anthem can not be justified under any circumstance and the presence of foreign dignitaries on the dias is no justification for insulting the National Anthem.

Karnataka Assembly was also rocked by strong protest from the MLAs on April 11, 2007.

UNI