SC asks Centre to keep 1986 national anthem ruling in mind while replying to TM Krishna’s plea against penal protection for Vande Mataram.

Supreme Court protected schoolchildren who respectfully declined to sing the national anthem on grounds of conscience.

The Supreme Court told the government that those refusing to sing Vande Mataram on grounds of conscience should not face penal consequences. The court cited its 1986 judgment that protected schoolchildren who respectfully declined to sing the national anthem.

The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday deferred further hearing on a PIL challenging the State government’s recent decision to allow only the first two stanzas of the National Song, Vande Mataram, to be sung at official functions, in view of a pending Supreme Court case on norms requiring the singing of all six stanzas of the song and treating obstruction of its rendition as a punishable offence.

Karnataka Governor urges Chief Minister to reconsider order limiting 'Vande Mataram' rendition to two stanzas, citing national protocol.

Karnataka Governor urges Chief Minister to reconsider order limiting 'Vande Mataram' rendition to two stanzas, citing national protocol.