If Vande Mataram is sung in madrasas, ‘heavens will not fall’, says Calcutta HC
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The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday verbally observed that “heavens will not fall” if all six stanzas of Vande Mataram are sung in madrasas, Live Law reported.
The bench of Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen was hearing a public interest litigation challenging a May 19 West Bengal government notification mandating that the song be sung in all madrasas under the state’s Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department.
The newly-formed Bharatiya Janata Party government has directed government model madrasas, recognised government-aided madrasas and recognised unaided madrasas to sing all six stanzas of the patriotic song.
During the hearing, Chakraborty remarked: “Heavens will not fall...today if I am asked to utter a quote that is not in my religion...what will happen? I will become a person not belonging to that religion?”
The court also pointed to educational institutions run by other religious communities where students recite prayers, Live Law reported.
“There have been thousands of Christian schools where all students are asked to pray to the Lord,” the court said. “Then, do students belonging to a particular community ask why they are being asked to sing certain things which are in the Christian religion?”
The petitioner’s counsel argued that the national anthem “stands on a higher pedestal when compared to the national song” and therefore singing...