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2017 DIGILAW 2968 (MAD)

N. Ranjith Kumar v. Union of India

2017-09-01

M.DHANDAPANI, M.SATHYANARAYANAN

body2017
ORDER : M. SATHYANARAYANAN J. 1. By consent, the writ petition itself is taken up for final disposal. 2. The petitioner is a practicing Advocate and by filing the present writ petition in the form of public interest litigation, he would contend that as per the news articles and photographs appended to the typed set of documents, the National Flag is hoisted at flag mast containing particular colour of some political parties. Normally, the National Flag shall be hoisted at poles painted with white colour. Since many such violations are taking place during Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations, the respondents shall form a monitoring committee for the purpose of finding out violations, if any, and thereafter, to take action against those persons who insult our National Flag in accordance with law. 3. Heard both sides and also perused the materials placed on record. 4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner has drawn the attention of this court to the provisions in The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 as well the Flag Code of India, 2002 and also the judgment rendered by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Union of India v. Naveen Jindal and another reported in AIR 2004 SC 1559 : CDJ 2004 SC 273 and would submit that in the light of mandate cast upon the concerned authorities by the statute and also the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, it is high time to constitute a monitoring committee to ensure the implementation of the above said Act and the Code. He would, therefore, pray for appropriate orders. 5. This court has considered the rival submissions made by the respective counsel appearing for the respondents. 6. It is relevant to state that Section 2 of The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, provides for penal consequences in the event of anybody insults Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India or any part thereof. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in Union of India v. Naveen Jindal's case [cited supra], has considered the issue whether the right to fly the National Flag with respect and dignity is a fundamental right of a citizen within the meaning of Article 19(1)(a) of The Constitution of India and it is relevant to extract paras 18 and 19 of the judgment as under:- 7. It is to be noted at this juncture that every Citizen of India is to respect and honour the Indian National Flag and, if anybody insults the National Flag, the consequences are provided under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. If any complaint, in this regard, is made to the concerned official there under, the statute mandates to take appropriate action. 8. The petitioner prays for a direction for constitution of a monitoring committee to look into the issues relating to insulation of the National Flag. In the considered opinion of this court, forming such a committee is neither practicable nor feasible. Therefore, the writ petition deserves dismissal. 9. In the result, the writ petition is dismissed subject to the above observations. No costs.