If Vande Mataram is sung in madrasas, ‘heavens will not fall’, says Calcutta HC

Scroll.inIndependentCenter4 hr. ago

The Calcutta High Court remarked that 'heavens will not fall' if all six stanzas of Vande Mataram are sung in madrasas, while addressing a public interest litigation challenging a West Bengal government directive. The case involves a new BJP government mandating the singing of the entire patriotic song in government and recognized madrasas. The court highlighted that similar practices exist in other religiously affiliated educational institutions, such as Christian schools where students recite prayers. The petitioner argued that the national anthem holds higher precedence than the national song, but the court questioned whether punitive actions were taken to enforce the directive. The government has not yet imposed penalties, and the petitioner's counsel claimed that the requirement was not mandatory without enforcement. The issue relates to the historical context of Vande Mataram, which was adopted as the national song by the Constituent Assembly but is not mentioned in the Constitution. A recent Union home ministry directive mandates the full singing of the song.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced discussion of the legal and cultural implications of mandating Vande Mataram in madrasas. It includes perspectives from both the petitioner and the government, as well as historical context. While the court's remarks suggest a nuanced understanding of religious and爱国（

Hindustan TimesIndependentCenter7 hr. ago

The Calcutta High Court addressed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging a West Bengal government directive requiring the full recitation of Vande Mataram, India's national song, in madrasas. The court suggested that enforcing such a requirement would not lead to significant societal disruption, stating 'heavens will not fall' if the six-stanza song were sung in these Islamic seminaries. During the hearing, the bench questioned whether forcing students to recite verses from another religion would impact their religious identity. The court drew parallels with Christian schools, where students are required to pray, and noted that similar controversies had arisen in other religious educational institutions. Petitioners argued that Vande Mataram is not the national anthem and thus should not be mandated in madrasas, while the state's representatives requested additional time to provide further information.

Bias read (Center): The article presents the court's oral observations and arguments from both the petitioners and the state representatives without overtly favoring either side. It includes direct quotes from the court and legal representatives, providing balanced perspectives on the debate regarding the mandatory rec