Bengaluru
The Karnataka High Court has upheld the state government’s decision to adopt a specific tune for the rendition of the state anthem, Jayabharatha Jananiya Thanujaate, and made it clear that there is no restriction on individuals singing the anthem in their own style. The ruling came while dismissing an appeal filed by singer Kikkeri Krishnamurthy.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Poonacha upheld an earlier single-judge order that rejected the singer’s challenge to the government decision. The court observed that the government order does not prevent anyone from rendering the anthem differently and, therefore, does not violate any individual rights.
The state government, through an order issued on September 25, 2022, had selected a two-minute-and-thirty-second tune composed by Mysuru Ananthaswamy for official use of the state anthem. Krishnamurthy had questioned this move, arguing that Rashtrakavi Kuvempu’s Bharatha Jananiya Thanujaate was declared the state anthem in 2004 and that the tune composed by C. Ashwath had been traditionally used since then.
He further claimed that Mysuru Ananthaswamy had not composed a complete tune for the anthem and alleged that there was no proper evidence to support the government’s decision, making the order invalid. However, the court did not accept these arguments.
The single-judge bench, while dismissing the petition in April 2025, had stated that the petitioner’s fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression and his right to practice his profession were not affected. The bench also noted that the tune was selected after a detailed study by a high-level committee of experts.
The division bench agreed with these findings and dismissed the appeal, bringing clarity to the issue.
