J&K government withdraws controversial circular on state flag, launch enquiry

Jammu: Under fire from political parties, the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed government on Friday withdrew the controversial circular asking constitutional authorities to maintain the sanctity of the state flag, saying it was not approved by a "competent authority". The government said appropriate administrative action will be taken after enquiry into the circumstances leading to the issuing of this circular.

"The draft of the circular was not approved by the competent authority before issue of the same on 12th March, 2015, and as such stands withdrawn with immediate effect," an official spokesman said here today.

"Appropriate administrative action will be taken after enquiry into the circumstances leading to the issuing of this circular," he added.

Mufti government had on THursday issued a circular asking all constitutional authorities to maintain the sanctity of the state flag, at all costs, as is being done in respect of the Union Flag. Jammu and Kashmir has a separate constitution and separate flag unlike other states under special status.

Explaining further, the spokesman said since December 12, 2013, the state government has been pursuing a case in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court wherein the petitioner has prayed for a direction that the Republic Day of the state should be celebrated when the state constitution was adopted and became enforceable.

"It was also prayed that all constitutional authorities be commanded to use the flag of the state in all their official cars, offices and buildings with dignity and honor demonstrating the sanctity of the flag," he said.

The state government had not responded to the case and had not filed a reply as desired by the court, the spokesman said, adding, "The court gave a last chance to the state government to file a reply on or before it comes up for hearing which was expected to be anytime now."

He said in order to avoid any adverse order in a sensitive constitutional matter, the state government intended to file an affidavit in the court today contesting all the pleas made by the petitioner.

In the affidavit, it stated that it will issue a circular reiterating the respect that is to be accorded to the Union as also the state flag taking recourse to J&K Prevention of Insult to the State Honour Act, 1979, in the latter case.