A former IAS officer from Kerala has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Centre’s orders prescribing a six-stanza version of ‘Vande Mataram’ for singing and playing on specified occasions. The petitioner has argued that the move replaces the two-stanza version traditionally used as the National Song and could undermine the constitutional principles of secularism and fraternity.
Balakrishnan Sathyabhama Mavoji, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste community and is chairman of the Anupathika Prathinidhya Prakshobha Samithi (APPS), has challenged the Centre’s orders dated January 28 and July 9, 2026.
He contends that making the longer version mandatory would compel citizens to participate in religious practices they do not follow, infringing upon their freedom of conscience and fundamental rights.
Petitioner calls six-stanza composition a ‘religious war song’
The petition argues that the six-stanza composition drawn from Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s novel ‘Anandamath’ contains references to Vaishnavite and Saktheya religious practices and reverence for Hindu goddesses Durga, Saraswati and Lakshmi.
Describing the composition as a "religious war song", Mavoji has alleged that its religious references could offend the beliefs of minority communities and deepen communal divisions.
The petition states: "The unstated but undeniable consequence of the Impugned Orders would be to irreversibly deepen communal division and conflict in India by outraging the religious and spiritual feelings of minority religions; promote enmity and conflict between different communities by advancing the supremacy of dominant communities; and to promote enmity between Hindus and Muslims such that the unity, solidarity, harmony of our country as a whole is irreversibly mutilated. The Impugned Orders are a direct attack against the foundational Constitutional basic structure features of fraternity and secularism."
The petitioner has also challenged the orders on constitutional grounds, citing Articles 14, 19(1)(a) and (b), 21, 25(1), 28(3) and 29(2), among other provisions.
Tagore’s views and the two-stanza version
Mavoji has referred to Rabindranath Tagore’s views on ‘Vande Mataram’ during the freedom movement. According to the petition, Tagore supported the use of the first two stanzas but could not identify with the religious sentiments in the remaining verses.
The petition states that the Congress Working Committee endorsed this distinction in 1937. It also argues that the two-stanza version was used from 1947 until the 2026 orders, without a formal decision by Parliament or the Union government conferring the title of National Song.
Plea seeks withdrawal of Centre’s orders
The petitioner has sought quashing of the two orders and a direction preventing authorities from compelling people to sing or play the six-stanza version at official, ceremonial, government or educational events.
He has also sought a declaration recognising the standalone two-stanza version as the National Song and protecting citizens from penalties or allegations of disrespect for choosing not to sing or play it.
The plea comes after the Supreme Court, while hearing a similar petition by Carnatic musician TM Krishna, orally observed that people who refrain from singing ‘Vande Mataram’ for religious or other reasons should not be penalised.