Madras High Court Seeks Centre's Response On Plea To Play "Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu" Before "Vande Mataram" In Official Ceremonies

The Madras High Court, on Friday (June 12), issued notice, returnable by 8 weeks, challenging a Government Order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which mandates the order in which the National Song Vande Mataram and the National Anthem Jana Gana Mana are to be played during a state ceremony attended by the Governor of the State. The plea also seeks to ensure that Tamil Nadu's state song "Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu" is played at the commencement of the ceremony.

When the plea came up for hearing before the bench of Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, the bench noted that the 5th respondent in the case was the State of Tamil Nadu represented by the Governor. The bench wondered how the petitioner could seek relief against the Governor and how the Governor could represent the State in the plea. Noting that the Governor was not a necessary party in the case, the court directed the registry to delete the Governor from the list of respondents in the plea.

"How can the Governor represent the State? He is not a necessary party. Chief Secretary is there," the court orally remarked while directing the registry to make the deletion.

The plea has been filed by Ananya Radhakrishnan. It may be noted that last week, the court had permitted withdrawal of another petition filed by the same petitioner seeking to condemn the relegation of Tamil Nadu's state song, “Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu”, to third position during the swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Minister Vijay. The court had also given liberty to the petitioner to challenge the Central Government circular regarding events attended by the Governor of the State. Following this, the present plea has been filed. 

The controversy concerns the events that took place during the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on May 10, 2026. During the ceremony, Vande Mataram was played first, followed by “Jana Gana Mana” and then “Tamil Thai Vaazhthu”. Many parties, including the DMK opposition, condemned placing the State song in third position and criticised the ruling government. The ruling party, however, explained that the sequence was due to the Union Government circular with respect to the protocol to be followed in events attended by the Governor.

The petitioner had argued that the song, which is officially recognised as the State song, occupies immense historical, cultural and linguistic significance amongst the people of Tamil Nadu. It further states that the ceremonial recognition given to Tamil Thai Vaazthu represents coexistence between national unity and regional cultural dignity, both of which form integral features of the Constitution.

The petitioner had stated that by placing the song in the third position during the CM's swearing-in ceremony, deep anguish and concern were created in the minds of the people who perceived the same as unwarranted dilution and subordination of the ceremonial dignity traditionally accorded to the State Song.

The petitioner had also pointed out that the circular issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, only speaks about the inter se order in which the National Song and the National Anthem should be played when both are rendered together. The petitioner argued that as per the long-standing custom in Tamil Nadu, government functions and public ceremonies commenced with Tamil Thaai Vaazthu and the National Anthem was played at the end of the ceremony.

The petitioner argued that if deviations are permitted, there was a serious likelihood that the ceremonial status accorded to the state song would be diluted, ultimately reduced to a symbolic formality.

Case Title: Ananya Radhakrishnan v The Joint Secretary to Government of India

Case No: WP 21971 of 2026