'Sindh' or 'Sindhu' in national anthem? Now, court asks Centre to clarify

Mumbai, Dec 12: The Maharashtra government on Thursday told the Bombay High Court that it was following a 1953 government circular in using the word 'Sindhu' instead of 'Sindh' in national anthem in textbooks.

A division bench comprising justices Anoop Mohta and NM Jamdar was informed about the circular and given a copy of the Anthem. The court then asked the Centre to clarify its stand on the correct word and should be used in textbooks. The Centre has been asked to file its reply in January 2015.

The direction came during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by Dakshata Shet with respect to textbooks of Class X printed by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. She sought withdrawal of the textbooks and publication of the correct national anthem.

Appearing for the state government, assistant government pleader Chandrakant Yadav said the Centre's circular featured the script of the national anthem with the word ‘Sindhu' in it.

The high court had asked how the national anthem could be different in different states.

In October 2011, the Centre told the Bombay high court that usages of both 'Sindhu' and 'Sindh' are correct.

The Union home ministry submitted an affidavit before the high court in this regard.

Oneindia News