The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a High Court verdict that directed mobile phone operators to stop using the national anthem as a ringtone or a welcome tune.

A three-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha passed the order after disposing of two appeals filed by mobile operators Banglalink and Grameenphone challenging the HC verdict.

Following a writ petition, the HC on August 5, 2010 declared the practice illegal. The HC also directed Banglalink, Grameenphone and Aktel (now Robi) to donate Tk 50 lakh each to three charity organisations for using the national anthem commercially violating laws. However, the SC commuted the amount to Tk 30 lakh.

Writ petitioner's counsel Masud Ahmed Sayeed told The Daily Star that Banglalink and Grameenphone have to donate Tk 30 lakh to charity organisations -- Liver Foundation and National Institute of Kidney Research -- within 30 days after the release of the full SC verdict.

He could not say whether Aktel will get any benefit as it had not appealed against the HC verdict. The HC had ordered it to donate Tk 50 lakh to National Heart Foundation. Masud also said the mobile operators already stopped using the anthem. The writ petitioner, Kalipada Mridha, is also an SC lawyer.