India, Sept. 22 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to examine whether Vande Mataram should be recognised as the National Song or whether its official rendition should comprise two or six stanzas, saying the choice of national symbols and the aspirations associated with them fall within the remit of an elected government, even as it agreed to examine whether that recognition can carry criminal consequences for a citizen who, on grounds of conscience or religion, chooses not to sing it.

A bench, comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana made it clear that its scrutiny would centre on the penal consequences attached to the 2026 amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, ...