Stamp of disapproval

KOCHI: The city police is initiating a move to book industries and companies using national emblems and symbols for commercial purposes. The police will take action under The Emblems and Names (Prevention Of Improper Use) Act, 1950.Special Branch Assistant Commissioner, M V Ramesh said that the police have noted many products in which the emblems and names prohibited for use under the Act are used as wrappers. “This is serious offence and all police stations have been alerted to take action against such industries.  We have collected products of the companies that are using national emblems and names wrongly. These companies will be given notification or will be booked. Most of the products are from Tamil Nadu. We have notified the issue with the Tamil Nadu Police also. Flags, pictures of Gandhiji and Nehru and Asoka Chakara are mainly misused for commercial purpose. The police across the state have also been alerted about this,” said M V Ramesh.According to him one of the troubling issues with regards to use of great figures on commercial products is that when they are thrown on the road, people tend to stamp over them which is disrespectful, M V Ramesh said.  According to the law, no person shall, except in such cases and under such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government use, continue to use, for the purpose of any trade, business, calling or profession, or in the title of any patent, or in any trade mark or design, any name or emblem specified in the Schedule or, any colourable imitation thereof without the previous permission of the Central Government or of such officer of Government as may be authorised in this behalf by the Central Government. The constitutional schedule states that the name, or pictorial representation of the President, Prime Minister and historical figures like Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi cannot be used. The only exception is their pictorial use on calendars, and again, this should not be used for advertising purposes.