The Madras High Court has issued a circular directing that the National Song 'Vande Mataram' be played or sung at the beginning of Independence Day celebrations at the Principal Bench in Chennai, the Madurai Bench, the Tamil Nadu State Judicial Academy in Chennai and Madurai, Coimbatore Regional Centre, all District Judiciary units, and the Union Territory of Puducherry on 15 August 2026. The circular, issued by the Registrar General, states that this directive follows an advisory from the Government of India under the Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign 2026, which commemorates 150 years of the national song 'Vande Mataram'. The prescribed sequence of events is the playing of 'Vande Mataram', followed by the hoisting of the National Flag, and then the singing of the National Anthem.
The circular further specifies that the advisory mandates the inclusion of the national song in all such celebrations organized by the Madras High Court across its jurisdictional units as part of the nationwide observance of the campaign.
Following the issuance of the circular, the Madras High Court Bar Association at Madurai submitted a letter to the Registrar General expressing concern over the exclusion of the State song, 'Tamil Thai Vaazhthu', from the Independence Day programme. The association stated that there exists a long-standing convention in all programmes organised by the Madras High Court where 'Tamil Thai Vaazhthu' is traditionally played or sung at the commencement of the ceremony.
The Bar Association referenced a recent government order issued by the TVK government that mandates all educational institutions, universities, and public sector undertakings in Tamil Nadu to play 'Tamil Thai Vaazhthu' at the beginning of every event. It argued that in the absence of any prohibition on playing the State song, its omission from the Independence Day celebrations organised by the Madras High Court has caused disappointment among its members and has hurt the sentiments of those who regard the song as a symbol of Tamil identity.
The letter from the association emphasized that 'Tamil Thai Vaazhthu' is not merely a song but an enduring representation of Tamil language, cultural pride, and heritage. It underscored that as a premier constitutional institution in Tamil Nadu, the Madras High Court bears a special responsibility to uphold the dignity of the State, its constitutional values, and its rich linguistic and cultural heritage.
The association clarified that its concern is not intended to question the importance of the National Anthem or the National Song. Instead, it stressed that respect for the nation and respect for the Tamil language and cultural identity of the State must coexist with equal dignity. It requested the Registrar General to consider the representation and include 'Tamil Thai Vaazhthu' in the Independence Day celebrations, either as part of the opening sequence or in a manner that affirms both national and state-level symbols.
The Bar Association’s representation highlights the tension between central government advisories under national campaigns and established state-level practices that hold cultural and symbolic significance. The matter remains under consideration by the Registrar General’s office, and no further order or modification to the circular has been issued as of the date of the association’s letter.