SC dismisses petition filed against political parties over use of tricolor in flag

A bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai, Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice NV Anjaria dismissed the petition of petitioner Sanjay Bhimshankar Thobade. Thobade had personally presented his case in the court.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear a public interest litigation (PIA) seeking action against political parties for using party symbols in flags that look similar to the tricolor.

A bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai, Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice NV Anjaria dismissed the petition of petitioner Sanjay Bhimshankar Thobade. Thobade had personally presented his case in the court.

The petition alleged that some political parties are using flags in their campaigns that resemble the national flag tricolor and replace the Ashoka Chakra with party symbols. The petition specifically named the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), and Nationalist Congress Party. The petitioner called it a violation of the Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act of 1971.

However, the Supreme Court bench refused to consider the petition and said, "Since when are they doing this? Some parties have been doing this since independence. With this the court dismissed the petition.