The Supreme Court says that not singing all six stanzas of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ should not automatically attract criminal action. The court’s observation is made during a hearing on a plea by Carnatic vocalist T M Krishna, who challenges the government’s position on requirements at official occasions.
The case focuses on whether insistence that all stanzas be sung can amount to an offence, including under rules tied to “insult” to the national song. The Centre is asked to respond to the petition, which questions the validity and application of the legal framework that treats failure to follow prescribed singing norms as punishable.
Across the reporting, both outlets describe the same key development: the Supreme Court is considering the plea and, in its remarks, indicates that refusal or omission of all six stanzas, by itself, does not amount to criminal conduct. The next step is the Centre’s response and the court’s further assessment of how existing provisions apply in such situations.
