Centre mulls banning small plastic flags

The Central government is thinking of prohibiting the manufacture of small plastic Tricolours, the Bombay high court was told on Monday.

The Central government is thinking of prohibiting the manufacture of small plastic Tricolours, the Bombay high court was told on Monday.

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Advocate YS Bhate, Central government counsel, informed the division bench of justice Abhay Oka and justice Ajay Gadkari that the Centre has sought the opinion of all the state governments and union territories, as they would be the ones implementing the ban.

Bhate further informed the court that the Central government has so far received opinions from seven states, and a final decision will be taken after considering the opinions of all the states.

Bhate was responding to a public interest litigation filed by the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, a Dombivli-based NGO, which sought proper implementation of the government resolution (GR) issued by the home department in August 2007, which prohibits the use of plastic for the manufacture of national flags.

The PIL, filed through advocate Anand Patil, raises the issue of national flags, especially the smaller ones, lying scattered after national days such as January 26 and August 15.

Since plastic is not biodegradable, they remain strewn in the streets for days together.

The GR also instructs collectors of all the districts to ensure plastic flags are not circulated among the public, and that they be destroyed in accordance with the National Flag Code if they are found lying on the streets.