SC dismissed the PIL against use of tricolor national flag by political parties, says "Some parties are doing it before Independence"

Today (July 22, 2025), the Supreme Court (SC) of India was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a petitioner in person against the Indian National Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar Faction), and Nationalist Congress Party, using the tricolor National Flag as part of their political campaign but replacing Ashoka Chakra with their party symbol. The PIL sought directions to the Centre and the Election Commission to take steps to prevent the use of national flag by any political party or religious group for ‘partisan or religious purposes’. The three-judge bench of the SC, consisting of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, Justice NV Anjaria, and Justice K Vinod Chandran, declined to entertain the plea, stating, “Since when are they doing it? Some parties are doing it before Independence, dismissed.” During the proceedings, the petitioner submitted, “Some parties are putting their symbol on the national flag...the Congress Party has been doing this.” He added that this was a violation of the Prevention of Insults to the National Honour Act. After hearing the matter, the SC bench dismissed the PIL against use of tricolor national flag by political parties.