PIL in Delhi HC against RBI, SBI over permitting ₹2,000 note exchange without ID proof

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been moved in Delhi High Court challenging Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and State Bank of India (SBI) notifications, which permits the exchange of ₹2,000 banknotes without obtaining any requisition slip and identity proof, according to the news agency ANI. 

The plea calls the decision arbitrary, and irrational and offends Article 14 of the Constitution of India, hence, inoperative.

BJP leader and Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay moved the plea and sought direction to the RBI and SBI to ensure that ₹2,000 banknotes are deposited in respective bank accounts only so that no one could deposit the money in others' bank accounts and people having black money and disproportionate assets could be identified easily.

Besides this, the plea also prays for direction to the Centre to take appropriate steps against the black money and disproportionate asset holders in order to weed out corruption, and benami transaction and secure the fundamental rights of citizens.

It further states that according to the RBI total value of ₹2,000 banknotes in circulation has declined from Rs. 6.73 lakh crore to 3.62 lakh crore, of which 3.11 lakh crore has been reached either in individual's locker otherwise has been hoarded by the separatists, terrorists, Maoists, drug smugglers, mining mafias and corrupt people, ANI reported. 

“Presently, the total population of India is 142 crore, the total number of families is 30 crore, and 130 crore Indians have Aadhaar card. It means every family has 3-4 Aadhaar cards. Similarly, the total number of accounts is 225 crore, and out of that 48 Crore are Jana Dhan accounts of BPL families. It means every family has a bank account,”  the plea read. 

Recently, it was announced by the Centre that every family has an Aadhaar card and bank account. Therefore, why RBI is permitted to exchange ₹2,000 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 ₹2,000 banknotes. 

Hence, the petitioner also seeks direction from RBI and SBI to take steps to ensure that Rs. 2000 banknotes are deposited in a bank account only, the plea stated.

(With ANI inputs)