PIL opposing TN State song played after National Anthem, Vande Mataram: Madras HC seeks Centre, State response

The Madras High Court has sought responses from the Union and State government to a petition challenging the alleged relegation of the Tamil Thai Vaazhthu, the officially recognised State Song of Tamil Nadu, to a position after Vande Mataram and the National Anthem during official State functions [Ananya Radhakrishnan v. Joint Secretary].

A Bench of Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan issued notice today on the plea filed by Ananya Radhakrishnan. The case is expected to be heard next in eight weeks.

The petition challenges a January 28, 2026, circular issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs titled “Orders relating to the National Song of India.”

The petitioner has sought directions to ensure that Tamil Thai Vaazhthu is rendered at the commencement of official State functions and constitutional ceremonies in Tamil Nadu.

The plea was filed after the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and other Ministers on May 10, 2026, where Tamil Thai Vaazhthu was allegedly rendered only in the third position after Vande Mataram and the National Anthem.

According to the petitioner, this amounted to a departure from the long-standing ceremonial practice followed in Tamil Nadu and caused concerns among people in the State, who perceived it as an unwarranted dilution of the dignity accorded to the State Song.

The affidavit states that Tamil Thai Vaazhthu, composed by Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai in 1891, has evolved into a symbol of Tamil linguistic heritage, cultural identity and collective sentiment. It further states that the song was formally declared as the State Song of Tamil Nadu through a government notification dated December 17, 2021.

The petitioner has argued that for several decades, official government functions, public ceremonies and State events in Tamil Nadu have traditionally commenced with Tamil Thai Vaazhthu, while the National Anthem is rendered at the conclusion of the function.

The plea says the Union government's circular only stipulates that where both the National Song and the National Anthem are sung or played, the National Song will precede the National Anthem. It is silent on officially recognised State Songs, the petitioner has contended.

The petitioner has further submitted that no constitutional provision, statute or binding executive instruction prohibits the commencement of official State functions with an officially recognised State Song.

The plea invokes federalism, linguistic plurality, Article 29(1) of the Constitution and Article 51A(f), which speaks of the duty to preserve India’s composite culture.

The petition was filed through Advocate R Prabhakar.