Chennai: The Union govt on Monday told the Madras high court that its latest notification on singing Vande Mataram at govt functions does not mandate that the Tamil Thai Vaazhthu should be sung at the end of such events.Additional solicitor-general A R L Sundaresan, appearing for the Centre, made the submission before the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan while hearing a PIL filed by Chennai-based Ananya Radhakrishnan.The petitioner had sought directions to the authorities to ensure that govt functions in Tamil Nadu begin with the Tamil Thai Vaazhthu.According to the petition, it has been the practice in Tamil Nadu for several years to begin govt functions with the Tamil Thai Vaazhthu and conclude them with national anthem. The petitioner alleged that this practice was being diluted by singing Vande Mataram and national anthem before the Tamil Thai Vaazhthu.She challenged a Jan 28 circular issued by the Union home ministry, contending that the Tamil Thai Vaazhthu was not merely ceremonial but represented the sentiments, culture and identity of the Tamil people.The petitioner sought quashing of the circular and a direction to the state govt to issue appropriate administrative instructions to ensure that govt functions begin with the Tamil Thai Vazhthu.When the petition came up for hearing before the first bench, Sundaresan submitted that the home ministry had since issued a fresh notification and, therefore, the petition had become infructuous. He said the notification provided for Vande Mataram to be sung first, followed by the National Anthem, but did not mandate that the Tamil Thai Vazhthu should be sung last.The bench adjourned the matter to next week.
