Flying high on national fervour

This was not an isolated incident, but recurred often. The police had to intervene in some incidents, while in some other cases, they booked cases under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2005. 

The act decriminalises obstruction to singing the national anthem, in one of the provisions. It also deals with the national flag as well as the Constitution of India. 

Similarly, Flag Code-India is neither a statute nor a statutory rule or regulation. It contains detailed instructions with regard to the shape, size and colour of the national flag, the correct display, instances of misuse and display on national days or special occasions. 

The Flag Code of India, 2002 is an attempt to bring together all such laws, conventions, practices and instructions for the guidance and benefit of all concerned and has taken effect from January 26, 2002, by superseding the ‘Flag Code – India’ as it existed. 

Flag history: The Constituent Assembly realised the importance of the flag proposed to be adopted for Independent India. It set up an Ad Hoc Flag Committee, headed by Dr Rajendra Prasad, to design the flag for free India. The Flag Committee, constituted on June 23, 1947, arrived at the decisions  on July 14, 1947. 

Anthem’s history: India’s national anthem Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka was composed by Rabindranath Tagore on December 11, 1911. Dr. Rajendra Prasad informed the Constituent Assembly on January 24, 1950 that Jana Gana Mana will be the national anthem.