‘Disrespect to Tricolour’: Court notices to min

Jabalpur: A special MP-MLA court in Jabalpur issued a notice to MP minister Rao Uday Pratap Singh in connection with a complaint alleging disrespect to the national flag during a Tiranga Yatra in Narsinghpur district in 2024. Special judge DP Sutrakar issued the notice while hearing a complaint filed by Kaushal, a resident of Gotegaon in Narsinghpur district, and sought the minister's response in the matter. The matter will be taken up again on April 16.According to the complaint, the alleged incident took place on Aug 11, 2024, during a Tiranga Yatra organised in Gadarwara and led by Singh, who held the school education and transport portfolios in the state govt. The complainant alleged that the minister addressed people while seated on the bonnet of an open jeep that was draped with the national flag. The plea claimed that the manner in which the tricolour was placed on the bonnet caused it to droop and come into contact with the minister's feet, which allegedly amounted to a violation of provisions under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which prohibit using the national flag to cover vehicles or placing it in a manner that affected its dignity. The complainant stated that a complaint was earlier submitted to Gadarwara police station and later to the district superintendent of police, but no FIR was registered.