Court: Tamil Thai Vazhthu is a prayer song, not an anthem
The Hindu
Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court was hearing a case related to an incident in 2018, when the Pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Shri Vijayendra Sarasathi Swamigal was reportedly seated when the ‘Tamil Thai Vazthu’ was played
‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ is a prayer song and not an anthem. There is no statutory or executive order requiring attendees to stand up when ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ is sung. But the highest reverence and respect ought to be shown to ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’, observed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.
Justice G.R. Swaminathan took into account the fact that a government order issued in 1970 stated that the song, written by P. Sundaram Pillai, should be sung as a prayer song at the commencement (and not at the end) of all functions organised by government departments, local bodies and educational institutions.