Cuttack: Orissa high court has sought a response from the Centre regarding a PIL seeking action against the alleged misuse of the National Emblem of India due to lack of awareness among the people.
The PIL was filed on Dec 27, 2024, two days after the central govt, in a bid to curb unauthorised use of the National Emblem, names and photographs of president and prime minister, had proposed amendments with a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh and even jail.
The PIL was filed by Ganjam-based Alone Trust. Advocate Pabitra Kumar Dutta made submissions on the petitioner’s behalf while deputy solicitor general Prasanna Kumar Parhi appearing for the Union of India.
Lack of awareness is resulting in misuse of the National Emblem, the petition contended. It alleged that in many places ‘Satyameva Jayate‘ is not written as part of the emblem. The animals which form a part of the emblem are found missing at some places, the petition cited, giving examples of its misuse.
The Centre had filed a counter affidavit as per the court’s direction on Jan 22 and Feb 19. But the court was not impressed. The PIL was taken up again on March 12.
While directing the central govt ‘to file a better counter’, the two-judge bench of Acting Chief Justice Arindam Sinha and Justice M S Sahoo said, “There has to be verification, action taken and report. Counter will be accepted on adjourned date upon advance copy served.” The court has set the next hearing on March 26.
The National Emblem, adopted on January 26, 1950, is based on the Lion Capital of Ashoka. The words ‘Satyameva Jayate’ from Mundaka Upanishad, meaning ‘Truth Alone Triumphs’, are inscribed below the abacus in Devanagari script.
The PIL also sought the court’s direction to include the National Emblem in school curriculum and to create mass awareness among the people regarding the importance as well as the legal, social and cultural values of the National Emblem.