A Public Interest Litigation has been filed before the Karnataka High Court challenging a state government directive that limits the singing of Vande Mataram to its first two stanzas at government functions.
The petition has been filed by advocate Girish Bharadwaj, who has questioned the government’s authority to determine which portions of the national song should be performed at official events through an executive order.
What Does the Karnataka Government Order Say?
Under the directive being challenged, government functions in Karnataka are to include only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram.
However, the order makes an exception for certain high-profile constitutional and official events. When the President, Vice President, Prime Minister or Governor attends a government programme, the directive allows all six stanzas of the national song to be sung.
The distinction between ordinary government functions and events attended by senior constitutional authorities is at the centre of the legal challenge.
Why Has the Order Been Challenged?
Bharadwaj has argued that a state government should not use an executive order to prescribe the form and content in which a national symbol is presented.
The petitioner has questioned whether Karnataka has the legal authority to decide which portions of Vande Mataram can be sung at government functions.
According to the petition, restricting the national song in this manner is contrary to the national interest.
PIL Likely to Come Before Karnataka High Court
The matter is expected to be mentioned before the Karnataka High Court, following which the court may decide how the petition will proceed.
The challenge puts the Karnataka government’s directive under judicial scrutiny and raises broader questions about the authority of state governments to regulate the performance of nationally significant symbols at official functions.
