Two Flags For Jammu and Kashmir Stopped For Now By Court

Mangalore Today News Network

Jammu, Jan 01, 2015:  For now, only the national flag is to be used on government buildings and cars in Jammu and Kashmir, said the state’s High Court today.

 

On December 27, the court had said the state’s flag - red and white with three vertical stripes and a plough -should be used on government property along with the tricolor.  A different and larger bench or group of judges have today suspended that verdict.

The earlier order had been challenged by the BJP, which governs the state in coalition with the People’s Democratic Body or PDP.

Jammu and Kashmir is the only Indian state permitted to fly its own state flag along with the national flag.

The judges that asked for the state flag to be used had said their decision was based on Article 370 of the constitution, which grants special status to Kashmir and allows it to make its own laws in areas barring some like defence?. 

The state’s constitution makes it mandatory for the national and state flag to be used together. "The state flag has the same sanctity and position as the Union flag has under the Indian Constitution and other statutory provisions. Therefore, this sanctity and position has to be maintained at all costs," the judges had said four days ago.

 

Courtesy: ndtv