Allahabad HC turns down plea against singing of National Anthem in UP madrasas

LUCKNOW: In a major decision, the Allahabad High Court Wednesday turned down a petition challenging the UP government's order by which singing of national anthem in all the schools in the
state, including madrasas, was made mandatory.

Dismissing the petition filed by Alaul Mustafa, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Dilip Babasaheb Bhosale and Justice Yashwant Varma observed: "The recitation of the National Anthem is, in essence, the act of every citizen honouring the history and tradition of this great nation and ultimately subserves the promotion of a spirit of brotherhood amongst all without exception to the religious, lingual or regional
affiliations of a particular individual."

Elaborating, the court observed: "The petitioner was unable to refer to or draw our attention to any material which may have even remotely established that the singing of the National Anthem would
violate the beliefs and customs of students attending madrasas in the state," adding, "The writ petition also does not carry any evidence of students attending madrasas in the state objecting to the singing or recital of the National Anthem."

With these observations, the court dismissed the petition, saying it is thoroughly misconceived.

The petitioner, claiming himself to be the secretary of an institution which runs a madrasa in Mau district of Uttar Pradesh, had challenged the government order of August 3 as also a circular dated September 6 by which singing of the National Anthem in UP schools, including madrasas, was made mandatory.

A request was made in the petition for issuance of a direction ordering the respondents not to execute any order or force students of madrasas in the state to sing the anthem.