[1]Chennai: With the celebration of Independence Day around the corner, the Madras HC on Friday directed the chief secretary to initiate strict action against those who insult and dishonour the national flag and send appropriate circulars to officials concerned.
On a PIL from R. Kannan, an ex-serviceman, the first bench, comprising acting chief justice R.K. Agrawal and Justice M. Satyanarayanan, said the chief secretary should ensure that the provisions of Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act 1971, Flag Code of India 2002 and State Emblem of India (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 2005 be strictly complied with.
And in the event of any violation, the chief secretary should ensure that necessary and preventive action was taken.
Appropriate action should be taken against violators under penal provisions of the Acts. The chief secretary should also send necessary circulars and instructions to district collectors, superintendents of police and commissioners of police of all metropolitan cities and other departments for strict compliance to the Acts and Flag Code of India 2002. The writ petition is disposed of accordingly, the bench noted.
In the petition, Kannan, of Kilmaruvathur, Kancheepuram district, filed in August last year, contended that during Independence Day celebration on August 15, 2011, he had noticed various images over the national flags being sold in the market.
He had spotted elongated flags and rainbow- and heart-shaped flags in the market. People had no other choice; they had to buy flags that showed such mispresentation.
It was in an effort to attract children that the flags were modified into these shapes, thereby dishonouring various provisions of the Act. Wearing these flags during national ceremonies would defeat the purpose of honouring the flag.
Millions of soldiers in the border areas protect the land and flag. But, traders, for their personal benefit, were committing a crime by manufacturing prohibited flags.
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/flag30jpg-598