Chennai: The Madras high court has ordered notice to the state government and Puratchi Bharatham Party (PBP) on a public interest litigation, which sought a direction to ban its flag since it allegedly contains the Ashoka Chakra at the centre, which was against the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act. A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M. Sathyanarayanan. posted to September 23 further hearing of the PIL filed by R. Kannan Govindarajulu, an ex-serviceman.
The bench said the grievance of the petitioner was that the party flag in question uses the Ashoka Chakra emblem, which was at serial No. 16 of the schedule of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950. Despite the complaint of the petitioner, in response to Right to Information application, the police department informed vide communication dated May 21, 2013 that it had been explained to the petitioner “dissimilarities” between the national emblem and one used by the party flag. It has nowhere been stated as to what was the dissimilarity which was at least not apparent to the eye on the basis of the materials placed on record and brought to the court.
