The use of State Emblem of India by IAS officers under the control of the Jharkhand Government and by officers of the State Administrative Services is not in ‘accordance with the rules’ framed by the Central Government for the use of State Emblem of India.

Joint secretary department of Home, Prisons and Disaster Management Jharkhand Government AK Singh in a letter has clearly mentioned that use of State Emblem of India by IAS officers under the control of the Jharkhand Government and also by officers of state administrative services is not in accordance with the rules of State Emblem of India.

The joint secretary letter is addressed to Additional Chief Secretary, Food, Civic Supplies and Consumer Affairs department,  but was meant for Secretary Women and Child Development and Social Welfare department Amitabh Kaushal, who was then Secretary, Food, Civic Supplies and Consumer Affairs department .

This letter reads that then secretary food civil supplies & consumer affairs had written a letter in this regard of use of State Emblem Of India by IAS officers under the control of Jharkhand government on 22.11.2019 to department of Home, Prisons & Disaster Management to clarify the stand of the Government on its use by those who are doing it.

The joint secretary letter reads that this letter dated 22.11.2019 was sent to Law department for comments, which in its comment has described the use of it not in accordance with the rules of the State Emblem of India.

The Pioneer spoke to Secretary Women and Child Development and Social Welfare department Amitabh Kaushal on Sunday to know as to what all this is about to which Kaushal said, “I had written a letter to department of Home on 22.11.2019 requesting them to clear the stand of the government on the use of state Emblem Of India by IAS officers under the control of the Jharkhand Government.”

Kaushal said joint secretary Home’s letter addressed to him has communicated to him the comment of the Law department, which says that any use of State Emblem Of India by IAS officers under control of Jharkhand Govt or officers of the state Administrative Services is not in accordance with the rules framed for the State Emblem Of India.

He contented there should not be any such use of the State Emblem of India who are not any authority under the rules of it to use and those who do use it are doing it against the word and spirit of the rules regulated for the State Emblem of India.

Sources said with this crystal clear communication of State Home department many DCs in the districts of the State will have to get the metal plaque with State Emblem of India removed as there is a provision for penalty which goes like this, “Any person who contravenes the provisions…. shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees , or both.’