CHENNAI: Madras High court on Tuesday ordered that Vande Mataram must be played in all schools, colleges and universities, at least once a week preferably on Mondays or Fridays, reported ANI.
The Court ruled that the National Song must be played in all government offices and institutions, as well as private offices, factories and industries once a month. The court however said that anyone with a valid reason to not sing Vande Mataram should not be forced.
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“Vande Matharam” to be played and sung in all schools/colleges/Universities atleast once a week (Preferably on Monday or Friday):Madras HC
11:44 AM – 25 Jul 2017
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It also instructed the Director of Public Information to upload a translated version of the song in Tamil and English on government websites and its social media accounts.
In its order, the court said, “The fact that this country is our Motherland should always be remembered by every citizen of this country. Several people have sacrificed their lives and families to the independent struggle that prolonged for several decades. In these tough times, it was songs like our national song “Vande Matharam” which created a sense of belief and confidence in the people.”
The court was hearing a petition filed by K Veeramani who wanted to know in which language Vande Mataram was originally written in. Veeramani had appeared for the Teachers Recruitment Board examination and wrote Bengali as answer to the question but it cost him the job as it was marked as incorrect.
In the court however, the Tamil Nadu government accepted that Vande Mataram was originally written in Bengali.
The Supreme Court in April issued a notice to the central government asking for its response to a petition that pursued directions to make the national song mandatory. The centre was asked to revert in four weeks’ time and the court would take up the matter on August 23.
Earlier this year, the education minister Dhan singh Rawat stroked a controversy stating that one needs to sing Vande Mataram if they wish to stay in Uttrakhand. Colleges and other educational institutions should not have any objections to this he added.