The Supreme Court may hear a plea on October 27 seeking equal status for Vande Mataram and the national anthem. Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay filed the petition to transfer the case from the Delhi High Court. The plea said, “Vande Mataram is the symbol of our history, sovereignty, unity and pride.”
The Supreme Court is likely to hear on October 27 a plea seeking the transfer of a public interest litigation from the Delhi High Court to the top court, news agency Press Trust of India reported. The litigation seeks equal status for ‘Vande Mataram’ and the national anthem.
According to the Supreme Court website, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana is expected to hear the plea filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay.
The plea, filed through advocate Ashwani Dubey, has sought the transfer of the litigation from the Delhi High Court on the ground that a similar petition is pending before the Supreme Court.
“‘Vande Mataram’ is the symbol of our history, sovereignty, unity and pride. If any citizen by any overt or covert act shows disrespect to it, it would not only be an anti-social activity, but it would also spell doom to all our rights and very existence as a citizen of a sovereign nation,” the plea said, according to PTI.
“Every citizen must, therefore, not only refrain from any such activities but also do his best to prevent if any miscreant trying to show any disrespect to ‘Vande Mataram’. We must be proud of our nation, our Constitution, national anthem and national flag and put national interest above our personal interests and only then will we be able to protect our hard-earned freedom and sovereignty. It is the duty of the executive to frame a national policy to promote and propagate ‘Vande Mataram’,” it added.
The petitioner has also sought directions to the Centre and the Delhi government to ensure that ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ are played and sung in all schools and educational institutions on every working day.
The petition contends that, in the absence of guidelines or regulations on honouring the song, ‘Vande Mataram’ is being sung in an “uncivilised manner” and misused in films and at parties.
It states that the song played a historic role in India’s freedom struggle and should be honoured as much as ‘Jana Gana Mana’, citing a statement made by Constituent Assembly Chairman Rajendra Prasad in 1950.
“To keep the country united, it is the government’s duty to frame a national policy to promote-propagate ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and ‘Vande Mataram’. There is no reason why it should evoke any other sentiment, as both are decided by the Constitution makers,” the petition said.
“The sentiments expressed in ‘Jana Gana Mana’ have been expressed keeping the State in view. However, sentiments expressed in ‘Vande Mataram’ denote the nation’s character and style and deserve similar respect,” it added.
The petition has also said that ‘Vande Mataram’ should not be dramatised or included in variety shows because everyone present must show due respect and honour whenever it is sung or played.
The Supreme Court is, therefore, expected to consider on October 27 whether to transfer the pending Delhi High Court litigation seeking equal status and formal guidelines for ‘Vande Mataram’.