Karnataka High Court Upholds State Anthem Tune Prescription

The High Court of Karnataka has upheld the State government’s decision to prescribe a particular raaga/tune for singing the Naada Geethe (State anthem), Jaya Bharatha Jananiya Tanujaate, in specified places such as schools and official events. Justice Krishna S. Dixit dismissed a petition challenging the legality of the government’s notification, which mandated singing the State anthem in the tune composed by the late Mysore Ananthaswamy.

The court ruled that this condition does not impose an unreasonable restriction as it is confined to specific locations and occasions. The government’s decision was based on the recommendation of a panel of experts, and it does not prevent individuals from singing the anthem in any tune of their choice at other times. The judgment emphasized that similar to the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, singing the State anthem in a specified raaga at designated places is not unreasonable.