more-in The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Chennai city police to register a First Information Report against Kanchi Acharya Vijayendra Saraswati only if any cognisable offence had been made out on the basis of a complaint lodged against him for not having stood up when the State song, popularly known as Tamil Thai Vazhthu, was played at a private event here on January 23. Justice M.S. Ramesh issued the direction on a petition filed by S. Doraisamy, 75, an office-bearer of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam. The petitioner claimed that the State song was equivalent to the national anthem and therefore any insult to it should also be punished under the provisions of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act of 1971. Pointing out that Governor Banwarilal Purohit stood up in reverence, the petitioner alleged that Vijayendra Saraswati “had deliberately insulted the Tamil Thai Vazhthu in front of the Governor.” The petitioner also alleged that Kanchi Acharya’s decision to remain seated during the playing of the State song was tantamount to exhibiting contempt and exciting disaffection towards Tamil language and the State Government. It, therefore, would attract the offence of sedition too under Section 124-A of the Indian Penal Code, he claimed.

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