The Supreme Court heard a petition from Carnatic singer TM Krishna challenging the amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which now adds a three‑year prison term for refusing to sing Vande Mataram.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, interjected with the term "Naxalites" in a remark that was rejected by senior advocate S Muralidhar, a former High Court judge.
Mehta insisted the term referred to an ideology, not an individual, and said he would repeat it. Muralidhar called for decorum and warned the bench that the comment was unnecessary.
The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, ordered the Centre to file a written response and will consider whether the amendment violates the Constitution's guarantee of secularism and freedom of expression.
Krishna argues that mandating the full six stanzas imposes a majoritarian religious message, citing the 1986 Bijoe Emmanuel case that protected children who refused to sing due to faith.
The next hearing is expected in the coming weeks, after the Centre submits its reply.