India, Sept. 22 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the response of the Centre on a writ petition filed by Carnatic vocalist T M Krishna challenging the constitutional validity of the 2026 amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which extends penal protection to Vande Mataram, as well as the Ministry of Home Affairs' directions mandating the singing of all six stanzas of the National Song at official functions.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of submissions by senior advocate S Muralidhar, appearing for Krishna. The bench said it would examine the penal aspect of the law and whether the right of a conscientious objector not to sing the song, a...