Vande Mataram advisory PIL: The Karnataka High Court dismissed a plea challenging the Centre’s advisory suggesting that schools may sing all six stanzas of Vande Mataram, noting it is not mandatory.

The Court said that it was not inclined to entertain a PIL in the matter, particularly since there is no mandate to sing the national anthem, and since the MHA’s advisory too included the word “may.”

A Bench comprising Vibhu Bakhru and CM Poonacha observed:

“Concededly, the national song is not covered under any statutory framework. ASG also points out that the orders mentioned the word “may” and it is not mandatory. The performance of national song is not mandatory unlike the national anthem. He also points out similar plea was dismissed by Supreme Court,”

The Court noted submissions made on behalf of the Ministry of Home Affairs that the advisory was not mandatory and that the Supreme Court of India had already dismissed a similar plea.

The petitioner had argued that prescribing all six stanzas—especially those referring to Hindu deities—could introduce a religious element in State-funded schools, potentially violating constitutional provisions related to secularism, equality, and freedom of religion. However, the Court declined to examine the issue further, stating that it would not exercise its discretion in a matter where compliance is not compulsory.

In a similar context, courts have declined to interfere in film screenings during elections