Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 13: The Government today withdrew a circular, which was issued only yesterday, which pertained to maintaining sanctity of Jammu and Kashmir flag citing a court case in Jammu and Kashmir High Court pending since December 11, 2013.
An official spokesman said that the State Government is pursuing since 11.12.2013 a court case in the J&K High Court wherein the petitioner has prayed for a direction that the Republic Day of the State of J&K should be celebrated when the State Constitution was adopted and became enforceable. It was also prayed that all the Constitutional authorities be commanded to use the Flag of the State in all their official cars, offices and buildings with dignity and honor demonstrating the sanctity of the Flag.
The spokesman added that the State Government had not responded to the case and had not filed a reply as desired by the Court. The court gave a last chance to the State Government to file a reply on or before it comes up for hearing which was expected anytime now.
The spokesman said that in order to avoid any adverse order in a sensitive Constitutional matter, the State Government intended to file an affidavit in the Court today contesting all the pleas made by the petitioner. In the affidavit, it stated that it will issue a circular reiterating the respect that is to be accorded to the Union as also the State Flag taking recourse to J&K Prevention of Insult to the State Honour Act, 1979, in the latter case.
However, the draft of the circular was not approved by the Competent Authority before issue of the same on March 12, 2015 and as such stands withdrawn with immediate effect. “Appropriate administrative action will be taken after enquiry into the circumstances leading to the issuing of this circular,” he added.
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