High Court seeks responses on Tamil Thai Vazhthu in Government functions

The Madras High Court has directed the Central and Tamil Nadu governments to respond within eight weeks to a public interest litigation seeking enforcement of the practice of beginning all government functions in Tamil Nadu with the Tamil Thai Vazhthu.
The petition was filed by Ananya Radhakrishnan of Chennai, who contended that government functions in the State have traditionally commenced with the Tamil Thai Vazhthu and concluded with the National Anthem. The petitioner alleged that this long-standing practice was diluted during recent official events, including the State government’s swearing-in ceremony, where Vande Mataram and the National Anthem were rendered before the Tamil Thai Vazhthu.
The plea sought the issuance of appropriate administrative instructions to ensure that government programmes begin with the State song. It also challenged a Union Home Ministry circular issued on January 28, which, according to the petitioner, encouraged the singing of Vande Mataram at official functions. Hearing the case, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice K.R. Shriram and Justice G. Arul Murugan issued notices to the Central and State governments and granted them eight weeks to file their responses.
The case is expected to raise important questions regarding official protocol, cultural identity and the conduct of government functions in Tamil Nadu.