Full Breakdown
Supreme Court Reviews Petitions Challenging Mandatory Six-Stanza “Vande Mataram”
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 27 2026, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India, headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and joined by Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, issued notice to the Union government on two petitions that contest orders requiring the full six-stanza version of “Vande Mataram” to be sung in schools and other public venues. The petitions seek to quash the orders dated January 28 2026 and July 9 2026 and to prevent compulsory performance of the six-stanza text.
Background & Context
“Vande Mataram” was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the early 1870s. A two-stanza, non-theistic version has been sung in public institutions for 79 years since independence. In 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued two orders that replaced this practice with the six-stanza version from Chatterjee’s novel *Anandamath*.
Key Figures & Groups
- B.D. Borkar – petitioner.
- Balakrishnan Sathyabhama Mavoji – petitioner, chairman of the Anupathika Prathinidhya Prakshobha Samithi (APPS).
- Chief Justice Surya Kant – bench head.
- Justices Joymalya Bagchi & V Mohana – bench members.
- Mohan Gopal – advocate for the petitioners.
- Ashwini Upadhyay – advocate filing a separate PIL for equal status for “Vande Mataram” and the national anthem.
Timeline
- January 28 2026 – First order mandating the six-stanza version.
- July 9 2026 – Second order reinforcing the mandate.
- September 2 2026 – Court observed that a government cannot compel “conscientious objectors” to sing any stanza.
- September 22 2026 – Court reiterated that objectors must not be penalised, citing *Bijoe Emmanuel v. State of Kerala* (1986).
- October 27 2026 – Notice issued to the Centre on the petitions of Borkar and Mavoji.
- November 30 2026 (scheduled) – Hearing on the petitions.
Data & Statistics
- Two-stanza version: used for 79 years (1947-2026).
- Six-stanza version: adds four verses from *Anandamath*.
- Petitioners: one activist and one former senior bureaucrat.
- Court composition: three judges.
Official Statements & Responses
On September 22, the bench directed the Centre to keep the 1986 *Bijoe Emmanuel* precedent in mind and indicated it could recognize the two-stanza version as the official national song, separate from the six-stanza text.
Criticism & Opposition
B.D. Borkar argues the orders replace a long-standing practice with a version containing “explicit anti-Muslim invective,” violating freedom of religion and conscience. Mavoji, a Hindu from a Scheduled Caste, says the mandate forces him into “sectarian theistic practice,” infringing secularism and religious freedom.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The core allegation—that the six-stanza version embeds sectarian content—is consistent across filings. No data on actual penalisation for non-compliance have been presented.
Why It Matters / Impact
The ruling will clarify how far the state can prescribe cultural expressions in public institutions without breaching constitutional rights to conscience and religion.
What's Next
The Supreme Court hearing is set for November 30 2026. The Court may issue interim directions on the two-stanza version before that date. The petition by Ashwini Upadhyay remains linked to the docket, potentially affecting broader policy on national symbols.