Vande Mataram Not Mandatory at Official Events’; Supreme Court Refuses to Consider Petition

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has declined to entertain a petition challenging a recent circular issued by the Union Home Ministry recommending the singing of Vande Mataram at official functions and in schools.

The court observed that the circular is merely advisory in nature and does not make the practice mandatory. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi noted that the directive does not prescribe any punitive action for non-compliance.

The bench stated that it would consider intervention only if any form of penalty or coercive measure is introduced in the future. The petitioner, Mohammad Sayeed Noori, who runs an educational institution, had challenged the protocol issued by the Home Ministry in January mandating the rendition of the full version of Vande Mataram.

With the court emphasizing the non-binding nature of the circular, the plea was effectively dismissed at this stage.