Supreme Court Declines Plea on ‘Vande Mataram’ Circular, Calls It Premature

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a plea challenging a Union Home Ministry circular regarding the singing of the national song Vande Mataram at official events, stating that the directive was not mandatory. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi observed that the petition was “premature” and based on a “vague apprehension of discrimination.”

Appearing for petitioner Muhammed Sayeed Noori, senior advocate Sanjay Hegde argued that while respect for all religions is paramount, compelling individuals to sing the national song irrespective of their beliefs could amount to enforced participation in a “social demonstration of loyalty.” In response, the bench questioned whether the circular imposed any penalty for non-compliance or if anyone had faced consequences for not singing the song.

The court noted that the directive uses the word “may,” indicating that participation is optional and does not infringe upon legal rights. Justice Bagchi emphasized that the freedom extends both to singing and not singing the national song. The bench further stated that the petitioner could approach the court if any coercive action or penalty arises, adding that the current plea lacked concrete grounds and was based solely on hypothetical concerns.

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