HC bins plea for ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ as opening invocation at govt events

Chennai: Madras high court on Friday dismissed as withdrawn a plea seeking to direct the authorities to restore the long-standing practice of starting govt functions in the state with ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’.

The petitioner, Ananya Radhakrishnan of Chennai, wanted the court to direct the Union and the Tamil Nadu govt to condemn the relegation of Tamil Thai Vazhthu to the third place, after the national song and the national anthem, during chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony on May 10.

When the plea came up for hearing, the first bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan wondered how a direction could be issued without directly challenging the circular issued by the Union govt, particularly since it applied not only to Tamil Nadu but to all states.

According to the petitioner, Tamil Thai Vazhthu has traditionally been sung at the beginning of govt functions in Tamil Nadu, and the national anthem at the end. She said this practice was being diluted by placing the Tamil Thai Vazhthu after the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ and the national anthem.

She pointed out that the Jan 28 circular directing that govt functions to begin with the national song did not prohibit states from starting events with their respective state songs.

She contended that ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ is not merely ceremonial, it represents the identity, culture, and sentiments of the Tamil people. She said the petition was not directed against either the national song or the national anthem.