Supreme Court Rejects Plea Against Political Parties Using Tricolour Flags With Election Symbols

The Supreme Court today (July 22) refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation against political parties using flags with the tricolour along with party symbols. 

The bench of CJI BR Gavai, Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice NV Anjaria was hearing a PIL filed by a petitioner in person against using the tricolour of the National Flag as part of their political campaign, replacing the Ashoka Chakra with their symbols. 

The petitioner in person submitted that political parties like the Indian National Congress have been adopting this practice. According to the petitioner, this was a violation of the Prevention of Insults to the National Honour Act. 

"Some parties are putting their symbol on the national flag...the Congress Party has been doing this." 

The CJI, disinclined to accept the petition, said:  "Since when are they doing it? Some parties are doing it before Independence, dismissed"

Notably, the petitioner had filed the plea against the Indian National Congress; Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar Faction) and Nationalist Congress Party. The ECI and the Union were added as the official respondents. 

Case Details : SANJAY BHIMASHANKAR THOBDE Versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.| Diary No. 56966-2024