The Madras High Court has requested responses from both the Union and Tamil Nadu State governments regarding a public interest litigation (PIL) that questions the sequence in which the Tamil Nadu State Song, ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu,’ is presented during official functions. The PIL argues against positioning the State Song after ‘Vande Mataram’ and the National Anthem at such events.
The court, comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, has issued notices concerning the petition brought forth by Ananya Radhakrishnan. This legal challenge specifically targets a circular dated January 28, 2026, from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, titled “Orders relating to the National Song of India.” The case is scheduled for further hearing in eight weeks.
Background of the Petition
The petition was filed in response to the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and other ministers on May 10, 2026. During this event, ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’ was allegedly performed following ‘Vande Mataram’ and the National Anthem, which the petitioner argues deviates from established traditions in Tamil Nadu.
According to the affidavit, ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu,’ composed by Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai in 1891, holds significant cultural value as a symbol of Tamil linguistic and cultural identity. The song was officially recognized as the State Song via a government notification on December 17, 2021.
Legal Arguments and Cultural Concerns
The petitioner, represented by Advocate R Prabhakar, contends that the long-standing practice in Tamil Nadu is to commence official functions and ceremonies with the State Song, while the National Anthem traditionally concludes the events. The petition argues that the Union government’s circular specifying the order of ‘Vande Mataram’ and the National Anthem does not address the status of officially recognized State Songs.
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The plea highlights that no constitutional or statutory provision mandates the exclusion of State Songs from the beginning of official functions. It invokes principles of federalism, linguistic diversity, and constitutional provisions such as Article 29(1) and Article 51A(f), which emphasize the preservation of India’s cultural heritage.
Implications and Next Steps
The outcome of this case could have implications for how State Songs are treated in official ceremonies across India, potentially setting a precedent for the recognition of regional cultural identities within the framework of national events.
