A public interest litigation has been filed before the Karnataka High Court challenging the State Government’s order dated September 8, mandating that only the first two stanzas of the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ be sung at state functions, except those attended by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor.
A public interest litigation has been filed before the Karnataka High Court challenging the State Government’s order dated September 8, mandating that only the first two stanzas of the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ be sung at state functions.
The plea, filed by Advocate Girish Bharadwaj through Advocate Angad Kamath, is expected to be mentioned today for listing. The order, issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms following a Cabinet decision on September 3, is alleged to conflict with the Union Government’s protocol. The petitioner points to a July 9 letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs that mandates the official six-stanza version be sung on all occasions. The PIL argues that ‘National Song’ does not fall under List II or List III of the Seventh Schedule, and hence is within Parliament’s exclusive domain under Entry 97 of List I read with Article 248. What the State Legislature cannot do by statute, the Government cannot do by executive order under Article 162, it contends. It further argues the order violates Articles 256, 257(1) and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026, which extends protection to the National Song. The plea also alleges procedural lapses, claiming the Cabinet decided an ‘Informal Discussion’ without a Cabinet Note or Law Department advice, violating the Transaction of Business Rules, 1977, and infringing Article 19(1)(a).
In the order, the state government said that Vande Mataram played a significant role in India’s national movement and helped instil the spirit of nationalism, unity, and patriotism among citizens.
