The Supreme Court has sought to know from the Centre whether waving national flag during a cricket match would violate the Flag Code 2002.
In an appeal, a Kolkata resident has objected to the unruly manner in which the Tricolour is waved by the spectators, who also used it as a towel, during the India-England series at Eden Garden and later in the India-Pakistan match in January this year.
Petitioner Kamal Dey said such action amounted to disrespecting the national symbol and sought a direction from the Court against any further misuse.
While the Calcutta High Court had dismissed the petition, the apex bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam and Justice Ranjana Desai was curious to know if waving the flag and carrying it on shoulders amounted to violation of Flag Code 2002.
In this regard, the court issued notices to the Centre, Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), West Bengal Government and Kolkata Police Commissioner, seeking responses to be filed within four weeks.
The petitioner pointed to a letter issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on December 31 last year, which asked the West Bengal Government, BCCI and CAB president to comply with the Provisions of the 1971 law and the flag code for the India-Pakistan match.