Flag code: SC notice to Centre

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Centre on a petition seeking formulation of a comprehensive national flag code for stopping the use and abuse of the tricolour for personal and political gains.

A bench comprising Justice N Santosh Hegde and Justice S B Sinha entertained the matter after ensuring that the petitioner, Seema Nayar, had deleted references to Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti who is presently undertaking a 'Tiranga Yatra'.

The bench had on Monday taken serious exception to the petition singling out alleged 'dishonour' of the tricolour during Bharti's yatra and had said it was strange none took note of its dishonour by a model and cricket fans.

Also Read Know your Tiranga! My Flag, My Country

The petitioner said that under the garb of freedom granted to individuals under the Flag Code of India, 2002, the national flag was being misused for partisan political gains and abused in fashion shows and sports events.

Stressing that the national flag was a symbol of pride for which numerous persons have laid down their lives, the petitioner said, "Unless the scope of the right is precisely defined, the abuse of the right and misuse of the flag would continue diluting the honour of the tricolour."

However, in an indirect reference to the 'tiranga yatra', the petitioner had said, "There may be situations where the national flag can be used in complete violation of the flag code by putting up national flags side by side with party flags, thereby giving an impression as if national flag was part of the particular party's campaign, which is highly objectionable and against the national spirit."