Calcutta High Court Raises Alarm Over Alleged National Flag Desecration on Independence Day
The Calcutta High Court, with Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya presiding, has expressed profound concern regarding the alleged desecration of the national flag during Independence Day celebrations. The Court emphasized the critical nature of the issue, pointing out the necessity of ensuring that individuals involved in such acts face consequences and are educated about the gravity of their actions.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Court remarked,
“Is it not a very serious issue? Especially on Independence Day, someone desecrates the national flag and dishonors our flag. The State should be more pro-active on this issue. Forget what allegations are made by the petitioner but these people who desecrated the flag must be taught a lesson.”
Further delving into the matter, the Court questioned the circumstances surrounding the arrest of 16 to 17 individuals, asking why they were detained if no flag desecration had taken place. The Court emphasized the importance of a transparent and honest approach to the issue, urging the State to look beyond political implications and focus on the matter’s essence. The Court expressed its willingness to discharge Suvendu Adhikari, the petitioner, suggesting,
“You please tell the truth. Also, every matter you give it a political color this isn’t permissible. You please tell the truth. If desecration has taken place, if statements of school authorities, etc have taken place or not? Merely by closing your eyes world won’t become dark. So you need to tell the truth. My experience here is, the cause is never in the focus but only the person, who brought the issue before the court is in focus. If you want, we will discharge the petitioner.”
In its official order, the Calcutta High Court observed that the State’s assertion that no desecration occurred might be influenced by the political affiliations of the petitioner. The Court opined that such a stance by the State could be driven by the petitioner’s political background.
However, the Court was clear in its stance that its primary concern is the cause and not the petitioner. It underscored the State’s responsibility to ensure the Indian flag is treated with the utmost respect and that the Flag Code is stringently enforced. The Court firmly stated,
“For us, the petitioner is of no concern, but the cause is. In our opinion, if desecration of the national flag has taken place in a government school, it is a serious issue. The State has a duty to ensure there is no dishonour caused to the flag and Flag Code is strictly implemented.”
