Calcutta High Court Dismisses PIL Praying To Print Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Image On Indian Currency

The Calcutta High Court recently dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea seeking directions to print images of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on Indian currency notes. The plea had been moved by 94-year-old freedom fighter, one Haren Bagchi Biswas.

The bench of Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj took into account the decision of the Madras High Court in the case K.K. Ramesh v. Union of India and Ors., wherein, finding no fault in Central Government and RBI's decision to retain only the image of Mahatma Gandhi and of no other personality in the currency notes, the High Court recently had dismissed a plea challenging Centre's rejection of a representation for printing the image of Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose on currency notes.

"This Court is not underestimating the fight and the sacrifice made by Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose and other great leaders for freedom moment of this Country. There are many known heroes and unsung heroes. If everybody starts making such a claim there will not be an end", a Bench comprising Justices N. Kirubakaran and M. Duraiswamy of the Madras High Court had observed.

Read more about the Madras High Court's order here: No Fault With Decision To Retain Only Mahatma Gandhi's Image On Currency Notes : Madras HC Dismisses Plea To Print Notes With Netaji's Image

Biswas had moved the High Court contending that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's picture should be printed on currency notes like Mahatma Gandhi's having regard to his contribution in the freedom struggle. The petitioner had further alleged that the government of India has not given due recognition to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's contribution to the freedom struggle.

The Calcutta High Court, after taking into account the ruling of the Madras High Court noted that the issue at hand had already been considered by a Committee constituted by the Reserve Bank of India, that had deliberated upon similar prayer and had not found it feasible to accept it.

Having regard to the above, the Court came to an opinion that no case for issuing the direction as prayed for in the present case was made out. The writ petition was accordingly dismissed.

Case Title: Haren Bagchi Biswas alias Harendranath Biswas v. Union of India

Case Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (Cal) 139

Click Here To Read/Download Order