New Delhi: The Centre on Saturday responded to a plea in the Delhi High Court seeking adoption of a policy for the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and the national song ‘Vande Mataram’. The government has said that the national anthem is a synonymous one. The government also said that citizens must give equal respect to both of them.

A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Sachin Dutt issued notice and sought a response from the Central government on the plea filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.

The bench also sought a response from the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT). The petition sought an order from the Centre as well as the Delhi government. Under which ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ will be played and sung in all schools and educational institutions at the beginning of every working day.