The Hindu : Front Page : National Anthem: Centre's response sought

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Tuesday, Mar 08, 2005

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Front Page

National Anthem: Centre's response sought

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 7 . The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to file its response, within two weeks, to a petition seeking deletion of the word "Sindh" from the National Anthem. Finding that the Centre had not filed its reply so far, the court wondered whether the Centre was indifferent to the issue.

However, the Attorney-General, Milon Banerjee, told a three Judge Bench comprising the Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti, Justice D.M. Dharmadhikari and Justice A.R. Lakshmanan, that the Centre was very serious about the issue and file its response shortly.

It also permitted three Sindhi organisations to implead themselves as parties in the case opposing the deletion of the word "Sindh" to file their response in two weeks and rejoinder if any in another two weeks. The Bench directed listing of the matter for final hearing in April.

The petitioner, Sanjeev Bhatnagar, contended that the recitation of "Sindh" in the National Anthem was certainly an infringement over the sovereignty of Pakistan. Such singing for over 54 years was also hurting the feelings of more than 100 crore people in India.

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