Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Karnataka High Court Hears Challenge to Vande Mataram Curbs
A court in Karnataka is hearing a disagreement about how much of Vande Mataram should be sung at government events.
The state government has limited the rendition to two stanzas.
A petitioner says the central government should decide the rules for national symbols.
He also says the state Cabinet did not follow the correct process.
The Karnataka government says singing the National Song is not compulsory.
It also says two stanzas have commonly been sung at official events.
The two sides disagree about what the Supreme Court and Union government guidelines require.
The case is being heard by a Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court.
The issue has also led to political protests inside the state Legislature.
The Karnataka High Court heard a PIL challenging the state government’s decision on singing Vande Mataram at official events.
The petitioner argued that the Union government, not states, should set rules for the National Song’s rendition.
The petitioner alleged that the Cabinet decision to limit the song lacked a formal proposal, Cabinet note, and supporting documents.
The Karnataka government argued that singing Vande Mataram is not compulsory and that two stanzas have generally been used since 1932.
The dispute follows political opposition, including BJP and JD(S) legislators singing the full version in the Karnataka Legislature.
- Who
- Senior counsel and activist Girish Bharadwaj filed the PIL; the Karnataka government is defending its decision.
- What
- The Karnataka High Court is hearing a challenge to limiting Vande Mataram to two stanzas at government events.
- When
- The hearing took place on Tuesday; the article does not provide an exact date.
- Where
- Before the Karnataka High Court in Bengaluru, with related events in the Karnataka Legislature.
- Why
- The petitioner says national-symbol rules are controlled by the Union government and that the state Cabinet’s decision had procedural flaws.
Petitioner’s Position
Karnataka Government’s Position
Who sets the rendition rules?
Petitioner’s Position
The Union government should prescribe how the National Song is sung, and state governments should follow those directions.
Karnataka Government’s Position
The government relies on communications indicating that two stanzas may be used at state government events.
Whether the full song is required
Petitioner’s Position
The petitioner says Vande Mataram is the National Song and argues that the Supreme Court did not determine how many stanzas should be sung.
Karnataka Government’s Position
The Advocate General says the National Song is not compulsory and that singing all six stanzas is not mandatory.
Validity of the PIL and Cabinet decision
Petitioner’s Position
The petitioner alleges that the state Cabinet acted without a formal departmental proposal, Cabinet note, or supporting document.
Karnataka Government’s Position
The Advocate General questioned the timing and circumstances of the petition and alleged that political considerations influenced it.
- Petitioner
- Senior counsel and activist Girish Bharadwaj
- Case type
- Public Interest Litigation
- Court bench
- Justice Anu Shivaraman and Justice T.P. Vivekananda
- State position
- The government says singing the National Song is not compulsory and that two stanzas are generally used.
- Petitioner’s claim
- Vande Mataram has six stanzas, and the prescribed rendition takes about 3.10 minutes.
- Political response
- BJP and JD(S) MLAs sang the full version inside the Karnataka Legislature.