Centre has left the order of singing State songs to the discretion of State governments: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court ruled that state governments have the discretion to determine the order of state songs at official events. This decision follows a petition challenging the placement of the Tamil Thai Vazhthu during a swearing-in ceremony.
Why it matters
The ruling clarifies the balance of power between central and state governments regarding cultural protocols and national symbols.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has left it to the discretion of the State governments to decide the order in which the State song must be played when it had to be played along with the national song and the national anthem during the commencement of official events, the Madras High Court has said.
Dismissing a public interest litigation petition as infructuous, the first Division Bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan wrote: “The Ministry’s revised circular dated July 9, 2026 leaves the placement and performance of State song to the discretion of the State Government.”
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