Collector Thakur Ram Singh has directed the officials to take stern action against sellers of plastic national flags and those made from inferior cloths.The Collector issued the directives during the Jandarshan programme held here on Wednesday.
The Union Home Ministry had maintained the use of plastic flag is an insult to national flag and a ban should be imposed on its use and mass awareness needs to be created among the public in this regard.
“If anyone uses plastic tri -colour, he or she could get upto three years in jail , fine or both”, says the circular.The circular has also been stated to consider strictly the Flag Code of India, 2002 and Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.The Ministry also mentioned last year that it has been informed that on many important occasions, plastic flags were being used in place of paper flags.'
Since flags made of plastic are not biodegradable and cannot be disposed they are harmful for environment. Besides, it is also a problem to dispose flags made of plastic in a respectable manner, it stated.
Notably, in February this year, the Chhattisgarh Government had also issued directions online for proper display of national flag according to the flag code.The General Administration Department had issued a circular stating the fresh guidelines of the Union Home Ministry in this regard, officials said.
The circular was handed to the Revenue Board, all the departments of the State government, Head of Departments, Divisional Commissioners and District Collectors.
The Union Ministry has also directed the States to ensure compliance of the provision of the Flag Code of India 2002 and Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 in use of national flag, demonstrations and flag-hoisting, the officials said.
The Ministry also asked for proper display of national flag in the Government websites and websites of related offices according to the provisions of the Flag Code of India 2002 and Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, officials said.