High Court of Karnataka
The Karnataka High Court has quashed a criminal case against a government high school principal on a complaint that he disrespected the national flag by standing on it wearing shoes. A photo of him standing on the flag was uploaded as his status on the social network.
The court overturned the case after noticing that it was not a photograph of him standing on the flag, but a portrait of him taken elsewhere that was placed against the background of the national flag, giving the impression that he was standing on the flag.
Justice M Nagaprasanna passed the order while allowing a petition filed by Venugopal BC, headmaster of Nagasandra Government High School, Bengaluru, which was booked under the Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act, 1971.
The case was registered on a complaint filed by BM Chikkanna, President, Human Rights Protection Committee, Chikkabanavara, on October 5, 2024, alleging that a WhatsApp status showed the principal standing with slippers on the national flag during Gandhi Jayanthi celebrations on the school premises.
The court accepted the petitioner’s contention that his mobile phone was with the students on October 2 to connect to the internet hotspot for live streaming of Gandhi Jayanthi celebrations in the school and it was the student who edited his photo and posted it as a status on his WhatsApp account without his permission.
It was also argued on behalf of the petitioner that he is a strict teacher and the student committed this misconduct to embarrass him and the particular student along with his parents sent an apology letter in this regard.
Published – 24 Feb 2026 20:28 IST
