Does the state know national anthem, asks HC

“Does the state not know what our national anthem is?” the Bombay high court questioned on Friday, while hearing a petition seeking that the state government withdraw class 10 and 12 text books in which Sindh has been replaced in the national anthem with Sindhu. Mohan K Korappath reports.

“Does the state not know what our national anthem is?” the Bombay high court questioned on Friday, while hearing a petition seeking that the state government withdraw class 10 and 12 text books in which Sindh has been replaced in the national anthem with Sindhu.

HT Image

The state has been asked to clarify its position on the issue and state what steps it will take to rectify the mistake by August 13.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Mulund resident Dakshata Shet, saying she noticed the change in the latest Class X textbooks printed by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education.

A division bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice SC Gupte stated that the original is ‘Sindh’. “You can’t start changing words in the song. It’s a national anthem,” Justice Chandrachud said.

The incorrect word has been printed in class 10 history, geography and Marathi books and in chemistry and other books prescribed for class 12.

The petition urged the court to direct the government to reprint the textbooks with the correct national anthem, and take action against persons concerned. The petition states that the apex court, as well as the Bombay high court, ruled that the national anthem should not be amended even if geographical changes take place in India. These rulings are specifically in relation to the word Sindh, the petition has stated.