The Karnataka High Court has asked Union and State governments to clarify their position on whether any other flag other than national flag could be hoisted and saluted by the State during official functions.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B.V. Nagarathna sought to know the governments' stand in this regard while hearing a public interest litigation petition filed by Prakash Shetty of Bangalore on Thursday.
Mr. Shetty had complained that the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) and its president T.A. Narayana Gowda were “misusing” the Kannada flag for their private gain.
When counsel for the petitioner pointed out that though the Kannada flag was not declared as the official flag of the State, it [Kannada flag with red and yellow colour] represented the culture and reorganised State of Karnataka, the Bench sought to know how it was possible for the State to have any other flag other than the national flag.
Counsel also referred to an announcement made by Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, in his budget speech on Wednesday that “Kannada flag hoisting on November 1 every year will be made compulsory in all Government offices, schools and colleges.”
However, counsel for the KRV submitted that the organisation and its president were not misusing the Kannada flag and it had not been given any official status.
Meanwhile, counsel for the government said that the State had refused to accept the suggestion to declare “Kannada flag” as the official flag for the reason that it would be against the unity and integrity of the country.
However, it was pointed out that the Kannada flag was being hoisted by the State during the official ceremony on the day of the Karnataka Rajyotsava.
