The Bombay High Court dismissed public interest litigation (PIL) which took objection on the use of ‘Satyamev Jayate’ in a realty show, hosted by Bollywood actor Aamir Khan.
A division bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Amjad A Sayed were hearing a PIL which alleged that the makers of the show have illegally used the phrase ‘Satyamev Jayate’ which is an integral part of the National Emblem.
Anil Singh, Additional Solicitor General who had appeared for the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and Information and broadcasting, had told the court that the phrase ‘Satyameva Jayate’ is only the motto of the Emblem.
Citing certain sections from the State Emblem of India (Prohibition and Improper Use) Act and State Emblem of India (Regulation of Use) Rules, Singh informed the bench that the use of the entire Emblem as a whole is specifically prohibited. He also informed that there is no specific mention regarding prohibition on the use of the ‘motto’.
After perusing all the submissions made by the petitioner and the government, the bench observed, “It is true that the ‘motto’ is a part of the entire Emblem but the makers of the show have not used the entire Emblem, rather they have used only part of it.”
“Going by the laws, the prohibition is only for the use of the Emblem as a whole and not the motto ‘Satyameva Jayate’ separately,” the bench noted.
The bench said, “There appears no violation of any law or rule, by all the respondents in this petition.”
