Ashoka Emblem Vandalised at Hazratbal Shrine: Vidhi Setu Foundation Urges Strict Legal Action

On September 5, 2025, the Ashoka Emblem, a foremost symbol of India’s sovereignty and national identity, was vandalised at the Hazratbal Shrine in Srinagar.

Installed only days earlier, the emblem was defaced and destroyed by a group of individuals in full public view, with the incident quickly spreading across social media.

The shocking act, carried out within a place of worship before a large assembly, triggered widespread protests and anger across the region.

Law enforcement agencies responded with swift intervention, registering a First Information Report (FIR) and detaining over two dozen individuals.

In response, The Vidhi Setu Foundation, a New Delhi-based organisation, formally addressed the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, and the Director General of Police, J&K, urging strict and exemplary legal action.

In its representation dated September 13, 2025, the Foundation characterised the incident as not merely an act of vandalism but a deliberate attack on the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.

It stressed that the defacement of the National Emblem in such a sensitive location amounted to a grave provocation, calculated to disturb public order and insult national honour.

The Foundation sought the application of multiple legal provisions. It pointed to Section 2 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which criminalises the mutilation, defacement, or destruction of national symbols in public spaces. The emblem, carrying the motto Satyameva Jayate from the Upanishads and originating from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, was described as central to India’s identity and sovereignty, and its desecration a direct violation of this law.

The representation further cited the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005, observing that the emblem’s placement by a non-governmental body without authorisation was prima facie improper, and that its subsequent destruction compounded the offence by bringing the emblem into dishonour.

The Foundation also urged invocation of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978, particularly Section 8, which empowers authorities to order preventive detention for acts prejudicial to public order or the security of the State. It argued that the actions of the perpetrators fell within the grounds for detention, including attempts to create communal disharmony, propagate hatred, and incite force that could disturb public peace.

The representation relied heavily on the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, identifying several provisions that may apply. These include Section 152, covering acts endangering sovereignty and unity of India; Sections 196 and 299, penalising promotion of religious enmity and outrage of religious feelings; and Sections 298 and 300, which criminalise the defilement of a place of worship and the disturbance of a lawful religious assembly.

The Foundation emphasised that the act not only defiled a place of worship but also offended the religious sentiments of communities for whom the emblem carries deep cultural significance.

The plea also invoked the Fundamental Duties enshrined in Article 51A of the Constitution of India, which obligate citizens to respect the Constitution, uphold national symbols, and safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.

The actions at Hazratbal, it argued, represented a flagrant violation of these constitutional duties and therefore warranted stringent state response.

The Foundation’s prayer called for immediate registration of a comprehensive FIR covering all relevant penal provisions, a swift and impartial investigation into the matter, and the initiation of preventive administrative measures to ensure such acts are not repeated. It also urged that all applicable laws, including the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, the Public Safety Act, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, be invoked against all individuals and groups involved.

The matter now lies before the concerned authorities, with investigations ongoing and the state administration under pressure to demonstrate strong deterrent action.

The incident, having occurred in a sensitive religious site and involving the desecration of India’s most recognisable national symbol, is being closely followed both for its legal ramifications and for its broader implications on public order.

Signatory of the foundation: Adv. Abhijeet K Bhatt