Know your flag code: Tri-colour FYI

Independence Day celebrations have started early this year on social media with many people changing their display pictures to the tricolour on chat platforms like WhatsApp and on Facebook. But over the last couple of days, messages have been circulated on social sites about how these display images violate the code of the flag. However, you need not worry about having the flag as your display.

Here are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to displaying the national flag, online and offline:

• You can have the flag on display as long as it is displayed in its original form without modification or writings etc. on it. It should be used unedited, free from any manipulations.
• When uploading the image of the flag online, just ensure that you do not crop the image and in turn tamper with the proportions of the tri-colour.
• When uploading the flag’s image, ensure that you do not crop the image and tamper with the proportions of the tri-colour
• To quote the exact amendment that speaks of punishable offense: “Whoever in any public place or in any other place within public view burns, mutilates, defaces, defiles, disfigures, destroys, tramples upon or otherwise shows disrespect to or brings into contempt (whether by words, either spoken or written, or by acts) the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India or any part thereof, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extended to three years, or with a fine, or with both.
• On January 23, 2004, the Supreme Court held that the right to fly the national flag freely, with respect and dignity, was a Fundamental Right.
• On incorrect display, Lt CDR. K.V. Singh, Retd., author of Know Your National Flag, says: “Inscriptions or lettering of any kind should not be done on the national flag as it is not a canvas, rather the most solemn symbol of the nation.”
• Since 2005, the government has allowed display of the national flag above waistline on T-shirts, costumes, dresses, etc. But before this, the regulation stated that the flag could not form part of any costume or dress.