Jammu and Kashmir government today asked all constitutional authorities to maintain the sanctity of the state flag at all costs as is being done in respect of the tricolour.

The state has a separate constitution and a separate flag due to the state’s special status unlike other states.

“All the constitutional authorities are enjoined upon to maintain the sanctity of the state flag, at all costs, as is being done in respect of the union flag,” MA Bukhari, Commissioner Secretary to Government said.

“The flag shall always be hoisted jointly on the buildings housing constitutional institutions and shall be used on the official cars of constitutional authorities,” the circular said.

The circular said as per the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir and the Delhi Agreement of 1952, and keeping in view the historical background, the state flag has the same sanctity and position as the tricolour under the Indian Constitution and other statutory provisions.

“Therefore, this sanctity and position has to be maintained at all costs. It’s non-hoisting along with the union flag amounts to insult to the flag as per the Provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Insult to State Honors Act 1979,” he said.