📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Muhammad Mahdi Karim/ Augustus Binu
Politics
Karnataka's bid to limit Vande Mataram to two verses faces court challenge
✍️ NDTV
🗓 16 Sep 2026, 03:16 AM
👁 10
A petition has been filed in Karnataka's court questioning the state government's authority to restrict the national song Vande Mataram to only its first two stanzas.
A petition has been lodged in a Karnataka court seeking a judicial review of the state government's decision to confine the national song Vande Mataram to its first two stanzas. The filing, made by a public‑interest petitioner, argues that the restriction exceeds the state's jurisdiction over a national symbol.
The state had earlier issued an order directing that only the opening two verses of Vande Mataram be sung at official functions and in educational institutions. Proponents of the order said it was intended to address concerns over the song's length and content, while opponents contend that any limitation undermines the spirit of the anthem.
The petitioners contend that curbing the song may contravene constitutional provisions that safeguard national symbols and promote unity. They have asked the court to declare the state's directive invalid and to restore the full rendition of Vande Mataram.
The court has scheduled a hearing for the matter, but no verdict has been delivered yet. Legal experts note that the case could set a precedent for how state authorities may regulate expressions of national identity.
If the court rules against the restriction, it could prompt other states to reassess similar policies, reinforcing the uniformity of national symbols across India.
The state had earlier issued an order directing that only the opening two verses of Vande Mataram be sung at official functions and in educational institutions. Proponents of the order said it was intended to address concerns over the song's length and content, while opponents contend that any limitation undermines the spirit of the anthem.
The petitioners contend that curbing the song may contravene constitutional provisions that safeguard national symbols and promote unity. They have asked the court to declare the state's directive invalid and to restore the full rendition of Vande Mataram.
The court has scheduled a hearing for the matter, but no verdict has been delivered yet. Legal experts note that the case could set a precedent for how state authorities may regulate expressions of national identity.
If the court rules against the restriction, it could prompt other states to reassess similar policies, reinforcing the uniformity of national symbols across India.