'Satyameva Jayate' words use: Reply of Aamir, Star TV sought

Mumbai, Mar 11: The Bombay High Court on Friday, March 11 sought a response from actor Aamir Khan and Star TV to a PIL by an activist taking objection to the use of words 'Satyameva Jayate' for their television programme.

In his petition, activist Manoranjan Roy said the words 'Satyameva Jayate' form part of the Emblem of India and hence their use is violative under the State Emblem of India (Prohibition and Improper Use) Act and State Emblem of India (Regulation of Use) Rules.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in its affidavit, in response to the petition, said the use of phrase 'Satyameva Jayate' was not violative of the Act and Rules.

"The Act and Rules prohibit improper use of the State Emblem of India as a whole. There is no provision which prohibits the use of its part like 'Satyameva Jayate', the lion, the bull, the horse and so on," said the affidavit filed by MHA Under Secretary Pradeep Pandey.

"Hence the use of the words 'Satyameva Jayate' in TV programme does not violate any provision of the Act and Rules," the affidavit said.

The court, however, queried that if tomorrow someone else uses the Emblem as a whole and not the phrase, then will the Union government hold the same view. A division bench of Justices A S Oka and G S Kulkarni directed Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh to appear with regard to the petition on April 20.

The court also directed Star TV and Aamir Khan to file their affidavits by April 20. 'Satyameva Jayate', a show on social issues hosted by Aamir Khan, was teleacast on Star TV in 2012 and 2014.

PTI