In a bid to prevent recurrence of disrespect to the National Flag, the government on Friday introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to provide for a jail term not less than one year for second and subsequent offences under a 1971 act.
The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2003, moved by Minister of State for Home I D Swami, seeks to insert the word 'disrespect' and an explanation so as to widen the scope of the expression 'insult' by amending the earlier act.
The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, was enacted to punish overt acts of insult to, and attacks on, certain national symbols by burning, trampling, defiling or mutilating them in the public.
"Cases involving disrespect to the National Flag and the National Anthem have come to the notice of the government in the recent past," the statement of objects and reasons for the new bill said.
According to the bill, disrespect to the National Flag meant and included a gross affront or indignity offered to it, dipping it in salute to any person or thing and flying it at half-mast except on occasions for which the flag is flown at half-mast on public buildings.
It said disrespect to the flag included using it as drapery in any form whatsoever except in state funerals or armed forces or other paramilitary forces funerals besides using it as a portion of costume or uniform and putting any kind of inscription on it.
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