Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 10:59am on 23 Sep 2026,Wednesday India
The Supreme Court on September 22 said people who refuse to sing Vande Mataram on genuine religious or conscientious grounds should not face criminal penalties. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant referred to the 1987 Bijoe Emmanuel judgment, which protected three Jehovah’s Witness children who declined to sing the national anthem but stood respectfully during its rendition. The court is examining the penal consequences under the 2026 amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, which extends protection to the National Song. The Centre has been asked to respond within two weeks. (PC: X)
