The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (June 16) sought information regarding the steps taken by the State government in response to a letter issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs directing all State governments to act against unauthorised use of State emblems.

The Division Bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S. noted that the Ministry had issued a letter in June 2025 to all States for strict implementation of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and Rules.

The letter had also enclosed a 2025 decision of the Karnataka High Court containing similar directions to the state authorities therein.

Referring to the afore letter, the Bench directed:

"The Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, vide letter-file No.13/5/2025/Public dated 16.06.2025, addressed to the Chief Secretaries/ Administrators of all State Governments/Union Territory Administrations, Secretaries of all Ministries/Departments of Government of India, forwarded a copy of the judgment in High Court Legal Services Committee v. Principal Secretary [2025 SCC OnLine Kar 7828] of the Karnataka High Court for issuing suitable instructions to all concerned Government agencies to comply with the directions contained in that judgment and to frame regulations for imposition of fine and cancellation of driving licence by providing such penal measures in the relevant rules for violating law on the use of National Emblems and Symbols. The learned Senior Government Pleader to get instructions as to the action taken by the State based on the aforesaid letter dated 16.06.2025 of the Ministry of Home Affairs."

The Court was considering a suo motu petition initiated to consider the issue of unauthorized use of national and state emblems as well as government boards on vehicles along with a connected matter.

Earlier, the Court had asked the State to inform about the action taken report regarding vlogging inside moving buses and heavy vehicles.

Accordingly, in November 2025, it was told by the State that pursuant to the order, the Transport Commissioner had issued a communication to all Deputy Transport Commissioners asking the enforcement drive to cover these violations also.

On the same day, the Court had viewed a few videos posted by vloggers on YouTube that showed unauthorized fixing of multiple strips of LED lights, flashing name boards and flickering DJ lights on heavy vehicles carrying passengers and goods. The Transport Commissioner was then directed to obtain a report from the concerned enforcement officers regarding the statutory violations noted in the video clippings.

Yesterday, the Senior Government Pleader submitted that the action taken report of the Transport Commissioner in terms of the afore directions is placed on record and that an investigation report regarding the accident that occurred at Valparai 13th hairpin, prepared by the Motor Vehicle Inspector, Regional Trasport Office (Enforcement), Palakkad, is also placed on record.

Recording the afore submission, the Court had posted the matter to June 30 for further consideration.

Case No: WP(C) No. 25158 of 2024 and WP(C) No. 25129 of 2024

Case Titles: Suo Motu v. State of Kerala and Ors. and connected case

Click to Read/Download Interim Order