The Supreme Court on Wednesday (March 25, 2026) refused to entertain a plea against a Home Ministry circular on singing of national song Vande Mataram at official events, saying that a directive was not mandatory.
A Bench consisting of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi termed the plea filed by one Muhammed Sayeed Noori as "premature" and based on "vague apprehension of discrimination".
The national song debate, a reading between the lines
Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for Mr. Noori, said they respect every religion in the country, but if people are compelled to sing the song irrespective of their religion and faith, some may find it a compulsion to participate in the "social demonstration of loyalty".
Justice Bagchi asked if the circular specified any penal consequences for not singing the national song or if any person had been removed from the congregation for not singing it.
