City-based RTI activist Simranjit Singh has lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Governor of Punjab, the Director General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar, against Ward 18 councillor Kanwar Sartaj Singh for the alleged misuse and improper depiction of the State Emblem of India.

In his complaint, Singh highlighted that the councillor’s letterhead displayed an incomplete version of the emblem, omitting the national motto “Satyameva Jayate” inscribed in Devanagari script below the Lion Capital.

Citing the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005, RTI activist Simranjit argued that the emblem, as used by the councillor, was not in conformity with the prescribed design and constituted a violation of the law.

He emphasised that the State Emblem is a symbol of national authority and must be used strictly in accordance with the law.

He urged the authorities to register an FIR and take strict action against the councillor, noting that the Ministry of Home Affairs also had issued a notification to all chief secretaries, warning against the improper display of the emblem.

"The ministry’s letter pointed out that various government agencies and individuals were omitting the motto, which was a direct violation of legal provisions", he said.

Meanwhile, responding to the allegations, Councillor Kanwar Sartaj Singh claimed the omission was unintentional. He stated that due to a miscommunication with the printing agency, his letterhead mistakenly featured the incomplete emblem.

He clarified that he had already ordered new letterheads to rectify the mistake. "A MC House meeting is approaching and I had to submit a letter to the Mayor regarding issues in my ward. Since there wasn’t enough time to get new letterheads printed, I used the available ones. I had no intention to disrespect the emblem and was unaware of the violation," he said.