Using replicas of tricolour punishable

KOCHI: Making and using plastic replicas of the Indian National Flag is a punishable offence under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act-1971,  Ernakulam District collector P A Sheikh Pareeth has said.He said that violators would be subjected to up to  three years of imprisonment or a penalty or both.The collector said the National Flags, made of plastic, paper or similar materials, were being carelessly  discarded after use and hence the warning.  Section 1.2 of the Flag Code of India (2002) clearly  states that ‘The National Flag of India shall be made of handspun and handwoven wool/cotton/silk khadi bunting and hence the production of plastic replicas of the national flag is illegal’.