Supreme Court examines Vande Mataram plea, invokes 1986 national anthem ruling

The Supreme Court heard arguments on a petition concerning Vande Mataram during proceedings presided over by Justice Joymalya Bagchi. The bench signalled that its 1986 judgment on conscientious objection to the national anthem would form the legal foundation for deciding the matter. The hearing touched on issues of religious freedom, potential penal consequences, and related constitutional concerns.