Constitution doesn’t prohibit state flag, says panel formed by Karnataka govt

BENGALURU: A committee constituted by the Karnataka government to study the legality of having an official state flag has said there are no constitutional hurdles for such a move.

A nine-member committee was formed on July 10 by the state government following requests from some activists that the state should have its own flag. The committee submitted its report on Monday although, unofficially, a red and yellow flag, called Kannada flag, has been hoisted in some public functions.

A member of the committee, who did not wish to be named, said there is no provision in the Constitution that disallows states from having their own flags. “We have advised the government that there is no hurdle to having a state flag.”

The official said it was for the state government to take a decision on the issue.

“The report has been forwarded to the chief minister (Siddaramaiah). We are awaiting further instructions,” an official in the Kannada and culture department said, on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak on the matter.

Writer Patil Puttappa, who petitioned the government to notify an official state flag, welcomed the recommendation. “To protect the culture of this land, a flag was needed,” he said.

“This flag should be flown at a lower height than the national flag because our intention is not to disrespect it. We just want our culture to find a pride of place.”

The setting up of the committee had kicked up a row last year, with the opposition accusing the Congress government of stoking regional identity politics for electoral gains ahead of assembly elections, scheduled in May.