Accusing chief parliamentary secretaries (CPS) of violation of the dignity of the National Flag by illegally using it on their vehicles without authorisation, the Congress on Tuesday demanded immediate dismissal of CPSs and registration of criminal cases against them.
In an open letter to chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, former Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira said, "Through this letter, I wish to state that by putting the National Flag on their official cars, the CPSs are blatantly violating Section 3 of the Emblems and Names (prevention of improper use) Act, 1950."
"The Act says the Indian National Flag has been specified as Emblem and according to Section 9, 3.44 Flag Code of India, 2002, which falls under the Emblems and Names Act, 1950, those entitled the privilege of flying the National Flag on motorcars have been clearly designated," he added.
"The CPSs do not fall in the category of those entitled to fly the National Flag on their motorcars. Therefore by illegitimately flying the National Flag on their vehicles, the CPSs attract legal action under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 (amended by the Prevention of Insult to National Honour (Amendment) Act 2003), he added.
The CPSs by illegally and illegitimately flying the National Flag have not only broken the law of the land, but have also violated the oath of office taken by them, wherein they swore allegiance to the constitution of India, Khaira said, adding that although the constitutional appointment done by the SAD-BJP government is already under challenge in the Punjab and Haryana high court, flying of National Flag is yet another violation over and above the illegitimate appointment.
{{/usCountry}}The CPSs by illegally and illegitimately flying the National Flag have not only broken the law of the land, but have also violated the oath of office taken by them, wherein they swore allegiance to the constitution of India, Khaira said, adding that although the constitutional appointment done by the SAD-BJP government is already under challenge in the Punjab and Haryana high court, flying of National Flag is yet another violation over and above the illegitimate appointment.
{{/usCountry}}Besides, the illegal appointment of CPSs, the government has also wrongfully accorded cabinet status to various other dignitaries such as advocate general with a Cabinet rank, who are also flying the National Flag in utter violation of the said Act, Khaira said.
"In case the state government fails to take appropriate action in the matter, I would be left with no option but to move the Punjab and Haryana high court," Khaira added.