The Madras High Court sought responses from the Union and Tamil Nadu governments on a plea challenging the treatment of Tamil Thai Vaazhthu during official functions. The petition questions a Union circular allegedly resulting in the State Song being rendered after Vande Mataram and the National Anthem.
The Madras High Court has called for responses from both the Union government and the Tamil Nadu government on a petition questioning the treatment of Tamil Thai Vaazhthu, the officially recognised State Song of Tamil Nadu, during official State ceremonies.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice S.A. 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 likely 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 under the title “Orders relating to the National Song of India.” According to the petitioner, the implementation of the circular has resulted in the State Song being rendered only after Vande Mataram and the National Anthem during official functions in Tamil Nadu, thereby altering a long-established ceremonial practice followed in the State.
The petitioner has sought directions from the High Court to ensure that Tamil Thai Vaazhthu continues to be sung at the commencement of official State functions, government ceremonies and constitutional events held within Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Thai Vaazhthu occupies a unique place in Tamil Nadu’s public life and is widely regarded as an invocation to “Mother Tamil.” The song has traditionally been sung at the beginning of educational, governmental and cultural events across the State. While the National Anthem and Vande Mataram represent national symbols of unity and patriotism, Tamil Thai Vaazhthu has historically functioned as a symbol of Tamil linguistic pride and cultural heritage.
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. During the event, Tamil Thai Vaazhthu was allegedly rendered only after Vande Mataram and the National Anthem. The petitioner contends that this marked a significant departure from the convention historically followed in Tamil Nadu.
According to the plea, the sequence adopted during the ceremony generated widespread concern among sections of the public who viewed it as diminishing the status and respect traditionally accorded to the State Song. It is argued that the change was perceived as an unnecessary departure from established practice and was seen as undermining an important symbol of Tamil cultural identity.
The petition traces the historical significance of Tamil Thai Vaazhthu, noting that it was composed by renowned scholar and playwright Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai in 1891. Over the decades, the song has come to occupy a special place in the cultural and linguistic consciousness of Tamil society and is regarded as an emblem of Tamil heritage and pride.
The affidavit further points out that the Tamil Nadu government formally recognised Tamil Thai Vaazhthu as the official State Song through a notification issued on December 17, 2021. Since then, it has enjoyed official status and has continued to be an integral part of State functions and public ceremonies.
According to the petitioner, government events, public programmes and official functions in Tamil Nadu have, for several decades, traditionally begun with the rendering of Tamil Thai Vaazhthu, while the National Anthem is sung at the conclusion of the proceedings. This practice, the plea contends, reflects a balance between respect for national symbols and recognition of the State’s unique linguistic and cultural heritage.
The petition argues that the Union government’s January 2026 circular does not mandate any alteration to this practice. It points out that the circular merely provides that where both the National Song and the National Anthem are sung or played, the National Song should precede the National Anthem. However, the circular does not address the status or placement of officially recognised State Songs.
On this basis, the petitioner contends that there is no legal requirement compelling State authorities to place Tamil Thai Vaazhthu after either Vande Mataram or the National Anthem during official functions.
The plea further asserts that no constitutional provision, statutory enactment or binding executive instruction prohibits the commencement of official State functions with an officially recognised State Song. It is argued that the continued practice of opening ceremonies with Tamil Thai Vaazhthu is fully consistent with constitutional principles and established conventions.
In support of the challenge, the petitioner has relied upon the constitutional principle of federalism, arguing that India’s constitutional framework accommodates and respects regional identities within the larger national fabric. The petition also invokes Article 29(1) of the Constitution, which protects the cultural rights of citizens, and Article 51A(f), which places a duty upon every citizen to preserve and value India’s rich and composite cultural heritage.
According to the petitioner, preserving the traditional place of Tamil Thai Vaazhthu in official ceremonies serves not only the interests of Tamil linguistic and cultural identity but also reinforces India’s commitment to diversity and pluralism.
The petition has been filed through Advocate R. Prabhakar.
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE