No change in size of currency notes in near future: RBI to HC

Senior advocate VR Dhond, who represented the central bank, made this statement in response to a query made by the high court bench of chief justice Pradeep Nandrajog and justice Bharati Dangre.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) told the Bombay high court (HC) on Friday that it does not intend to change the size of currency notes in the near future.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) told the Bombay high court (HC) on Friday that it does not intend to change the size of currency notes in the near future. (REUTERS)

Senior advocate VR Dhond, who represented the central bank, made this statement in response to a query made by the high court bench of chief justice Pradeep Nandrajog and justice Bharati Dangre.

The bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the National Association for the Blind (NAB), highlighting the difficulties faced by the visually-impaired in identifying new currency notes and coins.

The petitioner body has sought directions to the RBI to include distinctive features in currency notes and coins so that visually-impaired persons can easily identify them.

The bench said the Dhond’s statement will take care of most of the problem as retaining the size of the notes will help visually-impaired persons to identify the notes.

The bench posted the petition for further hearing on November 4, after Dhond pointed out that the beta (trial) version of a mobile application being developed by central bank to help the visually-impaired identify the denomination of currency notes will become available on November 1.