KARNATAKAS DEMAND FOR A SEPARATE FLAG:NEED FOR A BALANCE BETWEEN FEDERALISMAND NATIONAL INTEGRITY

Flag is a symbolic identity of any political society. It is the source of honor and culture of that particular group and receives an unquestioned obedience from all the sections of the society. However, it becomes a source of concern when the demand emanates from the constituent states of a Federal nation. Questions regarding national integrity and unity then take the central position. Society gets divided into various sets of people having conflicting opinions on the issue. A recent such incident happened in Indian Territory when Karnataka Assembly passed the proposal for having a separate State Flag. It is in this backdrop that the present paper makes a holistic attempt to do an objective study of the whole issue and tries to add more insights in the on-going deliberations. The researcher has comprehensively covered following aspects in the paper:  Analysis of the historical background of such demand, its philosophical basis and its legal feasibility.  Explanation of the wider notion of the allegedly conflicting principles of Federalism and National Unity and emphasizes on the need to create a balance between them.  A detailed study of these two principles, their basis and various models accepted in different legal systems.  Indian Federal system in the light of National Integration process adopted at the time of Independence.  Significance of a flag for a Nation.  The legal and judicial history of the issue.  Critical comparison of Karnataka’s demand with that of Jammu and Kashmir.  Critical analysis of the feasibility and desirability of having a separate state flag and its political, social, cultural and psychological implications.  The possible solution of the matter at hand within the bound of the Constitutional provisions and principles.