Madras HC says no bar on singing Tamil anthem first

The Madras High Court has clarified that there is no bar on singing the Tamil anthem 'Tamil Thai Vazhthu' first at government functions in Tamil Nadu. The court stated that a Union Home Ministry circular issued on July 9 only mandates that Vande Mataram be sung before the National Anthem when both are played together, and does not address state anthems. The bench, led by Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murughan, noted that this sequence was followed at the Madras High Court on Independence Day: Tamil Thai Vazhthu first, followed by Vande Mataram and the National Anthem.

The clarification came during a PIL filed by Chennai resident Ananya Radhakrishnan, who sought directions to ensure government functions begin with the Tamil anthem. The Centre's counsel confirmed the circular does not stipulate that Tamil Thai Vazhthu should be sung last. The controversy had intensified after the swearing-in of Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on May 10, 2026, where the Tamil anthem was played third. The Tamil Nadu Assembly later passed a resolution mandating the state song first at all government functions. The court has reserved its orders on the petition.