The Madras High Court has sought responses from the Union government and the Tamil Nadu government on a public interest litigation challenging the alleged relegation of 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 and constitutional ceremonies.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice S.V. Gangapurwala Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan issued notice on the petition filed by Ananya Radhakrishnan and directed the respondents to place their stand on record. The matter is scheduled to be taken up for further hearing after eight weeks.
The petition challenges a circular dated January 28, 2026, issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs titled “Orders Relating to the National Song of India.” According to the petitioner, the circular cannot be interpreted in a manner that alters the long-standing practice followed in Tamil Nadu of commencing official government functions with Tamil Thai Vaazhthu.
The petitioner has sought directions from the High Court to ensure that Tamil Thai Vaazhthu continues to be rendered at the commencement of official State functions, government ceremonies and constitutional events conducted within Tamil Nadu.
The challenge was prompted by the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and members of his Council of Ministers on May 10, 2026. According to the petition, Tamil Thai Vaazhthu was rendered only after Vande Mataram and the National Anthem during the ceremony, thereby occupying the third position in the sequence of events.
The petitioner contended that the departure from the established ceremonial practice followed in the State generated concern among members of the public, who perceived it as diminishing the status and dignity traditionally accorded to the State Song.
The petition states that Tamil Thai Vaazhthu was composed in 1891 by Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai and has, over time, acquired significance as a symbol of Tamil language, cultural heritage, regional identity and collective sentiment. It further points out that the song was formally recognised as the State Song of Tamil Nadu through a government notification issued on December 17, 2021.
According to the petitioner, official government programmes, public events and State ceremonies in Tamil Nadu have for decades traditionally begun with the rendering of Tamil Thai Vaazhthu, while the National Anthem is played at the conclusion of the function. It was argued that this practice reflects the constitutional balance between national unity and regional cultural identity.
The plea contends that the Ministry of Home Affairs circular merely provides that where both the National Song, Vande Mataram, and the National Anthem are rendered, the National Song should precede the National Anthem. However, the circular does not contain any provision dealing with officially recognised State Songs or regulating the sequence in which they are to be played during State functions.
The petitioner has further argued that there is no constitutional provision, statutory enactment or binding executive instruction that prohibits the commencement of official State functions with an officially recognised State Song. It was submitted that the existing practice in Tamil Nadu is legally valid and constitutionally permissible.
The petition invokes constitutional principles of federalism, cultural diversity and linguistic plurality. It also relies upon Article 29(1) of the Constitution, which protects the rights of citizens to conserve their distinct language, script and culture. Additionally, reference has been made to Article 51A(f), which imposes a fundamental duty upon citizens to value and preserve India’s rich and composite cultural heritage.
According to the petitioner, any interpretation of the Union government’s circular that results in the displacement of Tamil Thai Vaazhthu from its traditional position at the commencement of official State functions would be inconsistent with these constitutional values and with the historical practices followed in Tamil Nadu.
The petition has been filed through Advocate R. Prabhakar. The High Court will consider the matter further after receiving responses from the Union and State governments.
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