Plea In Delhi High Court Challenges Notifications Allowing Exchange Of ₹2000 Notes Without Need Of ID Proof

A public interest litigation has been moved in the Delhi High Court challenging the recent notifications issued by Reserve Bank of India and State Bank of India permitting exchange of Rs. 2000 currency notes without obtaining any identity proof.

The plea has been moved by BJP leader and Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay seeking to declare the notifications as arbitrary and against Article 14 of Constitution of India. The impugned notifications have been published on May 19 and 20.

A direction is also sought on the RBI and SBI to ensure that the Rs. 2000 currency notes are deposited in respective bank accounts only, so that the no one could deposit the money in other accounts and people having black money and disproportionate assets could be identified easily.

Upadhyay has also sought a direction on the Union Government to take appropriate steps against the black money and disproportionate asset holders in order to “weed out corruption, benami transaction and secure fundamental rights of citizens.”

“Recently, it was announced by the Centre that every family has AADHAAR Card and Bank Account. Therefore, why RBI is permitting to exchange Rs. 2000 banknotes without obtaining identity proof. It is also necessary to state that 80 Crore BPL families receive free grains. It means 80 crore Indians rarely use Rs. 2,000/- banknotes. Therefore, petitioner also seeks direction to RBI and SBI to take steps to ensure that Rs. 2000 banknotes are deposited in bank account only,” the plea states.

The respondents in the plea are RBI, SBI and Union Ministries of Home Affairs and Finance.

Recently, the RBI announced the decision to withdraw Rs. 2000 notes from circulation. However, it said that the currency will continue as Legal Tender.

People may deposit ₹2000 banknotes into their bank accounts and/or exchange them into banknotes of other denominations at any bank branch, RBI had said.

“In order to ensure operational convenience and to avoid disruption of regular activities of bank branches, exchange of ₹2000 banknotes into banknotes of other denominations can be made upto a limit of ₹20,000/- at a time at any bank starting from May 23, 2023," a press note issued by RBI said.

Title: Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay v. Union of India & Ors.