Image Source: techicy, ANI_news

Today Prime Minister Modi stirred a controversy when he signed an autograph on an Indian flag in New York to be gifted to President Barack Obama. Chef Vikas Khanna who was about to gift the flag to the American President said, “Prime Minster has given this flag for President Obama, I will be meeting him.”

The flag was later taken away by officials after the controversy erupted to check whether there was any violation of the flag code. 

PM Modi autographed the Indian flag for President Obama to be handed over to him by renowned Chef Vikas Khanna. pic.twitter.com/2ES9TZ6zXK

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 25, 2015

According to “Indian Flag Code”, signing on an Indian Flag violates point 2.1(iv) of Section I, Part II of the Flag Code of India, 2002. The section states: lettering of any kind shall not be put upon the Flag. The same section also sums us what the expression ‘Indian National Flag’ means “any picture, painting, drawing or photograph, or other visible representation of the Indian National Flag, or of any part or parts thereof, made of any substance or represented on any substance.”

Point 2.1(iv) Section I, Part II of the Flag Code of India

Flag code of India
The Indian flag code is a set of laws that govern the usage of the Flag of India. The Bureau of Indian Standards is the authority which governs and enforces the manufacture and correct usage of the flag according to the certain standards issued in three sets of documents. The standards were created in 1968 and thereafter updated in 2008.

Know about The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 [http://www.mahapolice.gov.in/]

(i)The Flag shall not be used for commercial purposes in violation of the Emblem and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950;
(ii)The Flag shall not be dipped in salute to any person or thing;
(iii)The Flag shall not be flown at half-mast except on occasions on which the Flag is flown at half-mast on public buildings in accordance with the instructions issued by the Government;
(iv)The Flag shall not be used as a drapery in any form whatsoever, including private funerals;

Section 2:  Whoever in any public place or in any other place within public view burns, mutilates, defaces, defiles, disfigures, destroys, tramples upon or otherwise brings into contempt (whether by words, either spoken or written, or by acts) the Indian National Flag or any part thereof, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

Explanation 1. – Comments expressing disapprobation or criticism of the Indian National Flag or of any measures of the Government with a view to obtain or an alteration of the Indian National Flag by lawful means do not constitute an offence under this section.
Explanation 2. – The expression “Indian National Flag” includes any picture, painting, drawing or photograph, or other visible representation of the Indian National Flag, or of any part or parts thereof, made of any substance or represented on any substance.
Explanation 3.  – The expression “public place” means any place intended for use by, or accessible to, the public and includes any public conveyance.

The Flag shall not be used as a portion of costume or uniform of any description nor shall it be embroidered or printed upon cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins or any dress material;

(vi) lettering of any kind shall not be put upon the Flag
(vii)the Flag shall not be used as a receptacle for receiving, delivering, holding or carrying anything; provided that  there shall be no objection to keeping flower petals inside the Flag before it is unfurled as part of celebrations on special occasions and on National Days like the Republic Day and the Independence Day;
(viii)when used on occasions like unveiling of a statue, the Flag shall be displayed distinctly and separately and it shall not be used as a covering for the statue or monument;
(ix)the Flag shall not be used to cover a speaker’s desk nor shall it be draped over a speaker’s platform;
(x)the Flag shall not be intentionally allowed to touch the ground or the floor or trail in water;
(xi)the Flag shall not be draped over the hood, top, sides or back of a vehicle, train, boat or an aircraft;
(xii)the Flag shall not be used as a covering for a building; and
(xiii)the Flag shall not be intentionally displayed with the “saffron” down.