Karnataka Governor Urges CM to Rethink Vande Mataram Rendition Order

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has written to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar asking him to reconsider a Government Order issued on September 8 that restricts the rendition of 'Vande Mataram' to two stanzas at State functions.

In his communication dated Monday (September 21, 2026), the Governor argued that the restriction runs contrary to guidelines framed by the Union Government and violates the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026. He said the matter warranted fresh consideration in light of the constitutional position, central orders governing the national song, and statutory changes made this year.

Mr. Gehlot cautioned that persisting with the order could invite an unnecessary conflict between the State's administrative instructions and the protocol prescribed by the Union Government, and could lead to avoidable constitutional litigation over the respective executive powers of the Union and the States.

Outside State competence

The Governor maintained that the subject falls outside the legislative competence of the State, and that a State Executive cannot assume an independent power through executive instruction to prescribe a contrary national protocol. Central instructions, he said, leave no room for a State government to adopt a different or truncated version at its official functions, since the question concerns conformity with the prescribed protocol for a national symbol rather than administrative convenience.

He pointed to orders issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs relating to the National Song and National Anthem, which prescribe the official version of 'Vande Mataram' for rendition. He also cited Articles 73, 162, 256 and 257(1) to underline the limits on the State's authority in issuing the order, noting that the national song and the regulation of its official version are not expressly covered by the State List.

Statutory protection

The Governor observed that Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, now extends statutory protection to 'Vande Mataram' following the 2026 amendment, which covers the intentional prevention of the singing of the national song and the intentional disturbance of an assembly engaged in singing it. The amendment makes rendition of all six stanzas mandatory.

He said State executive action on the national song should be carefully harmonised with the central statutory and executive framework instead of prescribing a divergent, state-specific version, and that it may be constitutionally and administratively inappropriate for a State government to independently order a truncated rendition without first reconciling the decision with the applicable central framework. He also noted that the Supreme Court has recognised, in the context of national symbols, that the legal position must be examined with due regard to the statutory framework and constitutional freedoms involved.

The Karnataka government's September 8 order limits rendition to two stanzas, with exceptions permitted when constitutional authorities such as the President, Vice-President or Governor are present. The Congress has reaffirmed the two-stanza rendition at its working committee.

The dispute spilled into the Legislature on Monday (September 22) as a special session convened to discuss drought and the K. Kasturirangan report got under way. Congress and BJP members clashed after only two stanzas were played, with Opposition BJP and JD(S) members going on to render the full song.