The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a plea against a home ministry circular on singing the national song Vande Mataram at official events.
A bench consisting of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi termed the plea as 'premature' and based on 'vague apprehension of discrimination'.
Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for the petitioner, said that people may find it a compulsion to participate in the 'social demonstration of loyalty' if they are compelled to sing the song irrespective of their religion and faith.
However, the bench observed that the circular does not specify any penal consequences for not singing the national song and that people have the freedom to sing or not sing the song.
The bench told the petitioner that he can approach the court in case of any penal action or notice to him, and observed that at present the petition is nothing but a 'vague apprehension of discrimination'.
