'We Expect No Criminal Consequences On Person Not Singing Vande Mataram For Religious Reasons' : Supreme Court To Centre

The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the response of the Union Government on the writ petition filed by Carnatic musician TM Krishna challenging the constitutional validity of the 2026 amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which extends penal protection to the National Song, Vande Mataram, as well as the Ministry of Home Affairs' directions mandating the singing of the complete six stanzas of the song at official functions.A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana heard the writ petition.During the hearing, the bench orally observed that it is not within the remit of the Court to decide what the "National Song" is; however, the Court said that it will examine if the right of a conscientious objector to not sing it, as recognised in the "Bijoe Emmanuel" case, is protected.