Karnataka BJP MLA SN Channabasappa walked out of a programme organised by the Shivamogga district administration on Tuesday, September 15, to mark the International Day of Democracy, as only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram were sung.
The Shivamogga MLA was presiding over the programme at Dr BR Ambedkar Bhavana, which was attended by Deputy Commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatti and other senior district officials. As the programme began, the Naadageethe and Vande Mataram were rendered.
Channabasappa objected to the national song being limited to its first two stanzas and demanded that it be sung in full. Officials reportedly explained that the programme had been organised in accordance with a recent order issued by the Karnataka government.
The September 8 order issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Political) mandates that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung at state government programmes, except those attended by the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister or Governor. The order followed a decision of the Karnataka Cabinet taken on September 3.
Channabasappa, however, walked out of the programme, saying he would not be part of an event where the national song was cut short.
The government order has also been challenged before the Karnataka High Court. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed by advocate Girish Bharadwaj, through advocate Angad Kamath, questioning whether a state government can prescribe the form and content of a national symbol such as the National Song through an executive order. The matter is expected to be mentioned before the High Court on Wednesday, September 16, for listing.
The petition contends that the Karnataka government's order is contrary to orders issued by the Union government concerning the National Song. It points to a July 9 letter issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which was circulated to all states and said that whenever the National Song is sung, only the official version should be recited during mass singing.
The PIL argues that the official version comprises the complete composition of Vande Mataram in six stanzas, and challenges the Karnataka government's decision to prescribe only the first two stanzas at state functions.
The petition also raises a question of legislative competence, arguing that the subject of the National Song is not included in either the State List (List II) or the Concurrent List (List III) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. It therefore contends that the subject falls within Parliament's exclusive legislative competence under Entry 97 of the Union List (List I), read with Article 248, which deals with Parliament's residuary powers.