Prayagraj : The Allahabad high court has refused to quash the criminal proceedings initiated against six Muslim men, who had allegedly carried a Tiranga on which purported Quranic verses (Ayat and Kalma) were inscribed, during a religious procession in UP’s Jalaun district in 2023. Dismissing the petition filed by Ghulamuddin and five others, Justice Vinod Diwakar said that the applicants’ act was punishable under the Flag Code of India, 2002, and there was a violation of section 2 of the Prevention of Insults of National Honour Act, 1971 by the applicants. Stressing that the Tiranga, India’s national flag, symbolizes the unity and diversity of the nation, transcending religious, ethnic and cultural differences, the court observed, “It is a unifying emblem representing the collective identity and sovereignty of India.
Act of disrespect towards the Tiranga can have far-reaching social cultural implications, particularly in a diverse society like India.” The court also added that such incidents could be exploited by those who sought to create communal discord or fuel misunderstandings between different communities. Hence, the court emphasised that it was crucial to recognize that the actions of a few individuals should not be used to stigmatize an entire community.
The UP Police had booked the accused, Ghulamuddin and five others, under section 2 of the National Honour Act, 1971 and a criminal case was registered against them in Jalaun. The police filed a chargesheet .