Supreme Court Seeks Union’s Reply on Petitions Challenging Six‑Stanza Vande Mataram

Overview The Supreme Court on 27 October 2026 issued notices to the Union government on two petitions that question the recent orders mandating the six‑stanza version of Vande Mataram as the National Song. Key Developments Petitions filed by B.D. Borkar , a Phule‑Ambedkarite activist, and former IAS officer Balakrishnan Sathyabhama Mavoji challenge the six‑stanza version as a “divisive religious war song”. The bench, headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant , asked the Centre to respond to the claims. The petitioners argue that the orders issued on 28 January 2026 and 9 July 2026 violate the right to freedom of religion and amount to state‑imposed theocracy. The Court earlier, on 2 September 2026, observed that a democratically elected government cannot compel anyone to sing any stanza of the song under threat of penal action. The petitions invoke the 1986 Bijoe Emmanuel judgment to protect conscientious objection. Important Facts The six‑stanza version was first published in Chatterjee’s novel Anandamath (1882) and contains references to Hindu deities. The two‑stanza version, composed in the early 1870s, praises the natural beauty of the motherland without invoking any deity. For 79 years after independence, the two‑stanza version was the de‑facto national song in schools, public events and official ceremonies. The petitioners seek a court order to: Quash the two government orders that mandate the six‑stanza version. Prohibit any compulsion on citizens, especially school children, to sing or play the six‑stanza version. Direct that only the two‑stanza, non‑theistic version be recognised as the National Song. UPSC Relevance This case touches upon several core UPSC topics: Fundamental Rights and their limitation by the State. The balance between secularism and cultural symbols. Judicial review of executive orders and the role of the Supreme Court in safeguarding constitutional values. Historical evolution of national symbols and their impact on nation‑building (GS1: History). Way Forward The Court’s final judgment will clarify whether the Union can legally prescribe a specific version of a national song. A ruling in favour of the petitioners could lead to: Re‑affirmation of the two‑stanza version as the sole recognised National Song. Guidelines for schools and public institutions to respect conscientious objection. Potential legislative action to codify the status of national symbols, reducing future disputes. Conversely, if the orders are upheld, the government may need to frame clear exemptions for minority groups, balancing national integration with religious freedom.