New Delhi, Sept. 22 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the Centre's response to a plea challenging the mandate requiring all six stanzas of Vande Mataram to be sung at public gatherings.

A bench led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and comprising of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana directed Solicitor General of India (SGI) Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, to take the paper book and file the Centre's response within two weeks.

The plea has been filed by singer TM Krishna, who has challenged the Centre's mandate on the singing of Vande Mataram at public gatherings. The petition questions the requirement to sing all six stanzas and the penal consequences attached to non-compliance of the new law.

Senior Advoc...