Govt asks religious board to stop using state emblem

Govt asks religious board to stop using state emblem

Improper Use Is A Punishable Offence

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 29.10.2020 

The Tamil Nadu government has ordered the state Waqf board, which governs Muslim religious properties and is headed by a bureaucrat, and few other undertakings to stop using the official emblem of the government.

The government sought adherence to an earlier order which listed out the institutions allowed to use the tricolour-embellished Tamil Nadu emblem. The Waqf board did not find a mention on the list.

“It has been noticed that Tamil Nadu Waqf Board is using the State Emblem in tricolour. I request the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board and all offices under its control not to use the Tamil Nadu government state emblem by and to remove the state emblem from your letterheads forthwith,” B Chandra Mohan, principal secretary to the state government, minorities welfare department, said in a letter addressed to the board’s chief executive officer (CEO).

The letter, dated October 12, directed Faritha Banu, the Waqf Board CEO, to inform all district Kazis to stop using the emblem.

Government sources said Waqf Board is not the only state undertaking to receive such a letter as several others in other departments too have been told to strictly comply with the law.

Each department head (on October 5) was asked to take action against this and update the details soon. The complete list of designated commissions/offices allowed to use them is governed by two orders (G.O No.739 and  871) issued in 1994.

The move comes after complaints that office-bearers of state undertakings were misusing the emblem and that the government was keen on controlling this ahead of the election season, sources added.

Improper use of the state emblem is a punishable offence and the violators can be booked under Section 260 read with 5 of the Indian Penal Code (improper use of government emblem or stamp). Karur-based businessman Anbunathan was the last person to be booked for this offence while using them in an unlicensed ambulance with a fake registration number.

Transportation activist K Kathirmathiyon said these officials are not provided with G-series vehicle numbers (reserved for government staff). So they fix the emblem expecting merit and exemptions at toll plazas and check posts.

In a letter to the state Waqf board, which governs Muslim religious properties and is headed by a bureaucrat, principal secretary to the state minorities welfare department asked them to not use the state emblem and remove the same from their letter heads