Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Karnataka Court Challenge Targets Two-Stanza Vande Mataram Order
A lawyer named Girish Bharadwaj has asked the Karnataka High Court to examine a government rule about Vande Mataram.
The rule says that only the first two stanzas should usually be sung at state government programmes.
Events attended by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor are not covered by the restriction.
The lawyer says Union government instructions call for the complete six-stanza song during mass singing.
He argues that Karnataka should not shorten the prescribed version through an executive order.
He also questions how the state made its decision.
The government says it wanted a uniform and dignified protocol for official events.
The lawyer is asking the court to pause or cancel the order, but not to force anyone to sing.
Advocate Girish Bharadwaj has challenged Karnataka’s September 8 order limiting Vande Mataram to its first two stanzas at most state government programmes.
The restriction excludes programmes attended by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor.
The petition says Union government instructions prescribe the complete six-stanza composition for mass singing and seeks to quash the state order.
Bharadwaj argues Karnataka cannot determine the form of a national symbol through an executive order and questions the decision-making process.
The petitioner is seeking interim relief but says the PIL does not seek to compel individuals to sing Vande Mataram.
- Who
- Advocate Girish Bharadwaj filed the petition against the State of Karnataka, the Principal Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, and the Union of India.
- What
- The petition challenges Karnataka’s order limiting Vande Mataram to its first two stanzas at most state government programmes.
- When
- The challenged order was issued on September 8 after a Cabinet decision on September 3; the matter is expected to be mentioned for listing on Tuesday.
- Where
- The case is before the Karnataka High Court and concerns state government functions across Karnataka.
- Why
- The petitioner says the order conflicts with Union government instructions and exceeds the state’s authority, while the government says it established uniformity, dignity and appropriate protocol at official programmes.
Petitioner’s Challenge
Karnataka Government’s Position
Which version should be performed?
Petitioner’s Challenge
The petitioner says Union instructions prescribe the complete six-stanza composition for mass singing and that Karnataka cannot direct that the official version be shortened.
Karnataka Government’s Position
The state order directs that only the first two stanzas be sung at most state government programmes, with specified exceptions.
State authority
Petitioner’s Challenge
The petition argues that determining the form and content of a national symbol falls within Parliament’s exclusive legislative competence and cannot be done through a state executive order.
Karnataka Government’s Position
The state issued the directive after a Cabinet decision and says it considered the nature and circumstances of different official programmes while framing the protocol.
Purpose of the directive
Petitioner’s Challenge
The petitioner seeks to stop enforcement and says the order improperly curtails the officially prescribed version, while emphasizing that he does not seek to compel anyone to sing.
Karnataka Government’s Position
The government maintains that the restriction was intended to ensure uniformity, dignity and appropriate protocol at official programmes across Karnataka.
- Petitioner
- Advocate Girish Bharadwaj
- Challenged measures
- Karnataka Government Order dated September 8 and Cabinet decision dated September 3
- Restriction
- Only the first two stanzas are to be sung at most state government programmes
- Exceptions
- Programmes attended by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor
- Union instructions
- A Ministry of Home Affairs letter dated July 9, 2026, reportedly prescribed the complete six-stanza version for mass singing
- Requested relief
- Quashing or staying the order and interim relief against its enforcement
- Prior representation
- The petitioner says a September 14 representation to the Chief Secretary received no response
