Play And Sing Vande Mataram Regularly In All Educational Institutions, Govt. Offices,Private Companies: Madras HC [Read Judgment]

In order to “instill sense of patriotism in each and every citizen of the State”, the Madras High Court, on Tuesday, made the singing of India’s national song - Vande Mataram compulsory at least once a week in all schools, colleges, universities and educational institutions. It has also been directed to be played and sung in all government offices and institutions, private companies and industries at least once a month.

The Court was hearing a Petition filed by Mr. K. Veeramani, who had approached the Court after losing out on the opportunity of being appointed as a teacher in a Tamil Nadu Government School, after missing the cut off by one mark in the Teachers Recruitment Board Examination. He had now contended that he was wrongly deprived of one mark in a question which had asked for the language in which Vande Mataram was written. While the Petitioner had answered that it was written in Bengali, the answer key said that it was written in Sanskrit.

During the proceedings, the fact of it being written in Bengali was accepted by the Government, after which, the Court ordered that the mark be awarded to the Petitioner.

Justice M.V. Muralidharan then went on to issue a slew of directions, observing, “The youth of this country are the future of tomorrow. This Court hopes and trusts that this order shall be taken in the right spirit and also implemented in letter and spirit by the citizenry of this great Nation,”

"Patriotism is an essential requirement for every citizen of this country. The fact that this country is our Motherland should always be remembered by every citizen of this country. Several people have sacrificed their lives and families to the independent struggle that prolonged for several decades. In these tough times, it was songs like our national song “Vande Matharam” which created a sense of belief and confidence in the people".

The following are the directions issued by the Court:

“(a) The National Song “Vande Matharam” shall be played and sung in all schools/colleges/Universities and other educational institutions at least once a week (Preferably on Monday or Friday);

(b)The National Song “Vande Matharam” shall be played and sung in all Government Offices and Institutions/Private companies/ Factories and industries at least once a Month;

(c)The Director of Public Information is directed to upload and circulate the translated version of “Vande Matharam” in Tamil and English thereby making it available in the Government websites and also in social media;

(d)Let a copy of this order be marked to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Tamil Nadu, who shall issue appropriate instructions to the concerned authorities;

(e)In the event, any person/organisation has difficulty in singing or playing the National Song, he or she shall not be compelled or forced to sing it, provided there are valid reasons for not doing so.”

Read the Judgment Here