During ongoing proceedings before the Delhi High Court, the Central Government, through the Attorney General, clarified the government has no current proposal to replace the ₹50 banknote with a coin. This assertion came in response to a plea filed by advocates and social activists, who sought a judicial directive to the Finance Ministry and the Reserve Bank of India to explore issuing a ₹50 coin. Their rationale was rooted in concerns for the visually impaired, who reportedly face difficulty distinguishing ₹50 notes from other denominations due to similar size and tactile markers.
The Court, led by Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh, had been hearing a public interest litigation highlighting accessibility challenges faced by persons with visual disabilities. While the RBI had introduced tactile features on several denominations—like specialized shapes near the watermark on ₹20, ₹100, ₹200, ₹500 and ₹2,000 notes—the ₹50 note remained visually impaired–unfriendly. The petitioners contended this led to confusion, errors in transactions, and exclusionary difficulties for visually challenged individuals.
Against this backdrop, the government’s formal submission negated any active consideration of a ₹50 coin issuance. The Attorney General emphasized that no data or studies had triggered departmental discussions on replacing the existing note. He also noted that public preference leans heavily toward notes at this denomination, and such a change would need to comply with broader currency policy objectives, cost-benefit studies, and legislative or procedural requirements.
Despite this assurance, the Court underscored that the absence of a proposal did not diminish the importance of exploring the petitioners’ broader concerns. The bench clarified that even without immediate coin issuance, the RBI and Finance Ministry should consider measures to enhance the accessibility of ₹50 notes—including redesign or adjustment of tactile or visual features—to align with the rights of visually impaired citizens.
In its response, the government noted it has already introduced visually accessible markers on several denominations and was reviewing feedback on the new ₹50 and ₹200 notes. The bench encouraged sustained dialogue, including consultations with disability rights experts, RBI currency designers, and advocacy groups, to evaluate ways to improve usability without necessarily resorting to coins.
The Court refrained from issuing any directive to introduce a ₹50 coin but emphasized the Delhi High Court's role in overseeing administrative responsiveness to constitutional equality and accessibility mandates. It recognized the government’s right to manage currency issuance but underscored its responsibility to ensure that currency remains inclusive and practically usable by all sections of society.
Pending further developments, the bench adjourned the matter for a status update. It requested the government to furnish details on any existing oversight or working groups formed to review currency design accessibility issues and also called for data regarding currency usability complaints from visually impaired citizens.
In essence, while the government confirmed there is no proposal under consideration for a ₹50 coin, the Delhi High Court has reaffirmed the importance of addressing accessibility concerns associated with the note. The case highlights a broader principle: currency design should respect the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities. Going forward, stakeholders expect the government and RBI to meaningfully engage with disability groups and potentially revise note features—if not shift to a coin—so that no individual is disadvantaged in basic financial transactions.
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