Supreme Court Rules Against Penalizing National Song Objectors
· India · The Hindu, Times of India
The Supreme Court of India observed that while the state may define the National Song, it cannot subject conscientious objectors to penal consequences for refusing to sing it. A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant sought a response from the Union government regarding a petition by Carnatic vocalist T.M. Krishna. The petition challenges the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026, arguing that recent administrative orders compel citizens to participate in a ceremony involving devotional stanzas. Justice Joymalya Bagchi cited the 1986 Bijoe Emmanuel versus State of Kerala precedent, affirming that the right to religious freedom and silent objection remains protected. The court emphasized that individuals retain the right to recite or abstain from specific stanzas without facing criminal prosecution.
Why it matters
This observation reinforces individual religious freedoms against state-mandated participation in national ceremonies, setting a legal benchmark for future challenges to the 2026 Act.
Read the original report — The Hindu
Join us on Telegram
Breaking news the moment it lands. At 10,000 members we ship the Android app.