The Hindu Business Line : Unfurling the flag of patriotism

FIFTY-FOUR years after the Tricolour was adopted by the Constituent Assembly, that symbol of nationhood will fly free from tomorrow, courtesy a businessman.

The Union Cabinet on January 15 decided to lift the restrictions on flying the national flag, by way of amending the Flag Code. "Flying our Tricolour will be a small act of patriotism daily," Navin Jindal, the youngest son of industrialist and politician, O.P. Jindal, said.

Through a seven-year long litigation, the younger Jindal has been able to prompt the Government to remove the restrictions on flying the Tricolour.

In 1993, Jindal who manages Jindal Steel and Power Ltd of the O.P. Jindal Group, found himself on the other side of law as he had `flouted' the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act of 1950 by flying the Tricolour atop his office building in Raigad in Madhya Pradesh.

The provisions of the Flag Code stipulate that only Government offices and VIPs can fly the national flag while the public was allowed to fly the Tricolour only on a few designated days like Independence Day and Republic Day.

"I have only reclaimed our right to fly the flag,'' says Jindal who filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court in 1995 challenging the Government's restrictions. "Our Constitution allows us the freedom of speech and expression. Flying the national flag is an expression of my love for my country," he says. The case went up to the Supreme Court, which then asked the Government to set up a committee. The committee formed in October 2000, presented its report in April 2001.

Following the committee's decision to remove restrictions on flying the Tricolour by way of amendments to the Flag Code, Jindal was allowed to fly the flag at his premises across the country.

"Despite the committee's recommendations, the Government took its time to relax restrictions. The Government was prompted to take a decision before the January 15, 2002 Supreme Court hearing," Jindal said.

Even as the courts were battling over the restrictions on flying the flag, Jindal has flown the Tricolour atop all his premises since 1990.

"I don't believe the flag would be misused as many people fear. On the contrary, our Tricolour is the only linking point between each of us, irrespective of which religion, ideology, community we belong to," he said.

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