Government response sought on plea against mandatory singing of Vande Mataram

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the central government's response to a plea challenging the constitutional validity of the law and government directions mandating the singing of all six stanzas of the national song, Vande Mataram, at specified official functions. A three-member bench of CJI Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was hearing a plea filed by Carnatic vocalist TM Krishna, challenging the 2026 amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and the Ministry of Home Affairs' directions prescribing the complete version of the song.