SC Says Courts Can't Dictate Vande Mataram Stanzas, No Penalty for Non-Singers
· India · Times of India, deccanherald
The Supreme Court agreed to examine whether penal consequences can apply for not singing 'Vande Mataram' due to religious beliefs, but declined to decide whether the national song should comprise two or six stanzas, leaving that to Parliament. The bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana referenced the 1986 Bijoe Emmanuel vs Kerala judgment, which held that no one can be penalised for not singing the national anthem if showing respect by standing in silence. The court said conscientious objectors who do not sing one or all stanzas of the song should not face criminal prosecution. The hearing arose from a petition by Carnatic vocalist T M Krishna, who objected to reciting the full six-stanza version on grounds that its last four stanzas invoke Hindu goddesses and may offend some communities. The Centre has been asked to file its reply within two weeks on the PIL raised from the perspective of Article 25 rights and conscientious objection.
Why it matters
The ruling protects individuals, particularly religious minorities and conscientious objectors, from criminal liability for refusing to sing 'Vande Mataram' on grounds of faith or belief. It reinforces that matters of national song composition are for Parliament, not the judiciary, to decide.
Read the original report — Times of India
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