Visually Impaired Cannot Recognize Newly Issued Rs. 50 Notes: PIL In Delhi HC; Notice Issued [Read Petition & Order]

The Delhi High Court has asked the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Centre to file their response on a Petition contending that the newly issued Rs. 50 currency notes cannot be differentiated from others by visually impaired persons.

"The issues raised by the petitioners, who appear in person, are of public importance and have substantial impact on the rights of physically impaired persons. The submissions and prayers made in this petition deserve urgent attention of the respondents. Let the same be considered and views be taken thereon within two weeks from today," the Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar observed.

The Court has been approached by Advocates Rohit Dandriyal, Rahul Kumar, Kumar Vivek and Amritanshu Barthwal asserting that the RBI has introduced a special feature in Intaglio on all notes except those for Rs. 10. For instance, Rs. 20 note has vertical rectangles, while Rs. 50 notes used to have squares. This feature, it submits, helps the visually impaired to identify the denomination and the copies of the same.

It has, however, been alleged that the new notes do not contain any such identification sign.   This, it says, violates Article 14 of the Constitution of India, contending, "It is very difficult for visually impaired person to identify the New Note. This act of respondents violated the constitutional right of visually impaired persons, which is confirmed by article 14 of The Constitution India."

The Petition then demands that these notes be withdrawn and new currency notes for Rs. 50 with identification marks be issued.