States Can Decide When to Render State Songs, Centre Informs Madras HC

The Union government has informed the Madras High Court that individual states retain full discretion to decide when to render their respective state songs during government functions and may place them at any point in a programme.

The submissions were made in response to a public interest litigation petition filed by Ananya Radhakrishnan. The plea challenged a central government circular dated January 28 that made it mandatory to sing the national song at government functions, and sought guidelines ensuring that Tamil Thai Vaazhthu, the official state song of Tamil Nadu, is sung at the start of all official functions and constitutional ceremonies.

When the petition came up for hearing before the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, Senior Panel Counsel for the Union A Kumaraguru presented a revised circular issued by the central government on July 9.

The Union government clarified that whenever a state song is rendered alongside the national song and national anthem, the national song (Vande Mataram) and national anthem (Jana Gana Mana) must be performed together, with the national song preceding the national anthem.

The court was also informed that the Tamil Nadu government issued a Government Order dated August 12 explicitly referencing the Centre's revised circular. The state's order confirms that Tamil Thai Vaazhthu will continue to be sung at the beginning of programmes held across educational institutions, universities, government offices, and public sector undertakings in Tamil Nadu.

After recording the submissions and the updated circulars from both the central and state governments, the bench dismissed the public interest litigation petition as infructuous.