Republic Day: Flag code violated, plastic ones on sale

PATNA: According to the Flag Code of India, 2002, the tricolour should be made of hand-spun and hand-woven wool/cotton/silk khadi bunting. However, moving on city roads, flags made of plastic are a common sight at the makeshift shops that have come up before the Republic Day. The glossy flags are quick to attract attention and inexpensive pricing adds to their popularity.
With the starting price as less as Rs 2 apiece, there are two or three variants of plastic flags available at the city shops, and the flag sellers happily selling plastic tiranga are unaware of any code. "I have cotton, silk and plastic national flags, badges, head bands, stickers and tricolour sashes. The laminated flags are quite popular among Patnaites as they are catchy and durable," one of the flag sellers on Bailey Road, Mohammad Saquib, who has been putting his stall for nearly 15 years, told TOI.
Many other makeshifts shops are also stocked with designer plastic flags. While small plastic flag is priced at Rs 2 per piece, the double-sided laminated flag with the traditional flag on one side and a stylish tricolour with important historical places on the other side start at Rs 10. However, the flag retailers said they aren't aware that flags could not be made of plastic.
Patna high court advocate Sumeet Kumar Singh said, "As per the Flag Code of India, 2002, sale and distribution of tricolour made of any other material barring those permitted under the code is a penal offence. Violating the code breaks two laws - The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and the lawbreaker could be imprisoned for a term up to three years."
Despite several efforts, the chief secretary could not be contacted for a comment. However, Patna DM N Saravana Kumar said, "It is an important issue and we will look into the matter as the protocol has to be followed."
Redressing the concern expressed by environmentalists over using plastic, the Union home ministry had in 2012 advised all states and Union Territories to issue directions for not using national flags made of plastic. States such as Maharashtra, Karnataka and most recently Odisha issued directives to ban use of plastic national flags during celebration of Republic Day, Independence Day or other important days in the states.