Date:18/09/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/18/stories/2004091803061300.htm

National

Notice to Centre on flag code

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 17. The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre on a petition seeking a direction to prevent the misuse of the national flag. A Bench consisting of Justice N. Santosh Hegde and Justice S.B. Sinha heard the petition filed by Seema Nayar, who sought appropriate guidelines to prevent misuse of the national flag and to prevent its exploitation for commercial or political gains.

The petitioner submitted that there was an urgent need to define the freedom to hoist the national flag under the Flag Code of India and Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution as interpreted by the apex court in Navin Jindal's case as also the penal consequence in case of violation.