The Madras High Court on Friday observed that the Governor of Tamil Nadu cannot be impleaded as a party in a petition seeking directions to make the singing of ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ the first item at government functions. A division bench comprising Chief Justice S A Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan directed both the Union and state governments to file their responses at the earliest. The matter has been posted for further hearing after eight weeks.
The petition was filed by Chennai resident Ananya Radhakrishnan following the swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Minister and ministers held on May 10 after the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections. During the event, ‘Vande Mataram’ and the National Anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ were sung before the state song ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’, which was performed third—a departure from established practice.
In her plea, the petitioner contended that it has long been the tradition in Tamil Nadu to begin government functions with ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’—composed by scholar Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai in 1891—and conclude them with the National Anthem. She argued that this tradition is being diluted, citing recent events where the state song was not accorded primacy.
Radhakrishnan further stated that a circular issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on January 28, 2026, does not prohibit commencing official functions with the state song. She emphasised that ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ represents the cultural identity and sentiments of the Tamil people and should retain its traditional place at the beginning of official programmes.
Clarifying her stance, the petitioner noted that her plea was not in opposition to either ‘Vande Mataram’ or the National Anthem. Instead, she urged the court to direct the authorities to issue administrative instructions ensuring that the state song is sung first, thereby avoiding cultural discord at public events.
The court, however, held that the Governor could not be made a party to the proceedings and, consequently, could not be directed to respond to the petition. The case will be taken up for further consideration after the governments submit their replies.
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