NEW DELHI, May 29:
The Centre and the city government were today asked by the Delhi High Court to respond to a PIL seeking directions to ensure that the national flag as well as the national emblem are respectfully displayed at all occasions and places.
Issuing notices to the Ministry of Urban Affairs and Employment and also to the Delhi Government through its Chief Secretary, a division bench of Chief Justice D Murugesan and justice Jayant Nath sought their response by August 7.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by social activist and film maker Ulhas P R, through counsel R K Kapoor, saying that misrepresentation of the national flag by the government departments on different occasions has been reported in newspapers and despite online complaints against them, no action has been taken.
“Direct the respondents (govts) to see the violators of national flag and national emblem are adequately punished so as to keep up the dignity of the nation and the national honour, in the light of the provisions of Article 51 (A) of the Constitution as well as the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act and Flag Code of India,” the PIL said.
The petitioner claimed that complaints were sent to various ministries including Home Ministry and the department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances but nothing has been done.
Citing various instances, the petition contented that, “The Delhi and Gujarat governments in their advertisements show national flag without Ashoka Chakra and in an animated form…
“The Prime Minister of India’s Facebook page also shows India’s national flag differently on different occasions. On some occasions, the spokes in Ashoka Chakra are 8 and on some 12 instead of 24 spokes,” the plea contended.
“For the last one year, I have been writing to various ministries about the misrepresentation of our national flag but nobody seems to bother,” the petitioner said. (PTI)
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