The Blind Graduates Forum of India, the All India Confederation of the Blind, George Abraham, a visually impaired person, and Rohit Dandriyal and Rahul Kumar are among the petitioners.
Court Limits Currency Redesign
While hearing a lawsuit seeking the introduction of ₹50 notes with unique identification features for visually challenged people, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, highlighted that it cannot issue an order compelling the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) or the Center to redesign money.
A bench consisting of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela noted that the government and the RBI have the authority to make policy regarding the introduction of digital currency or the issuance of specially designed notes for the benefit of people with disabilities or the visually impaired. These decisions involve intricate technical and financial considerations.
Petition Seeks Inclusive Currency
The Blind Graduates Forum of India, the All India Confederation of the Blind, George Abraham, a visually impaired person, and Rohit Dandriyal and Rahul Kumar are among the petitioners.
The submissions had asked the court to order the issuance of a new Rupee 50 note with an identifying mark for those who are blind or visually challenged. They had also asked for guidance to guarantee the visually impaired person’s access to financial services.
The RBI’s argument that new currency printing is typically done once every ten years or so was noted by the court.
RBI Acknowledges Accessibility Concerns
If that is the case, the court ordered that before issuing or printing new currency notes, the RBI and the Indian government address the challenges and barriers faced by vulnerable groups of people, such as the disabled and visually impaired, and consider the practical recommendations of the High Powered Committee.
The court said its “fond hope and hopeful expectation” that the recommendations made by the High Powered Committee, which it established in 2022 to investigate all of the petitioners’ complaints, would be carried out eventually.
The RBI has acknowledged that it was “conscious of and respects the concerns of the visually challenged individuals about identification of banknotes” throughout the proceedings.
RBI Tests Accessible Features
It said that since 2017, development has been going on for the next banknote series. The RBI stated that it has taken up the issue of improving the banknotes’ visually impaired-friendly features with the printing presses and that tests are being carried out to determine whether it is feasible to increase the effectiveness of these features (such as bleed lines and other intaglio elements).
The RBI argued that printing fresh currency notes “may involve substantial expenses reaching into hundreds of crores and the recall,” and the court took that into account and destruction of old/prevalent currency would itself entail huge costs and time” in response to the petitioner’s request for a new Rupee 50 note with an identification mark for visually impaired people.
“As and when the Government of India and RBI decide to create additional currency, we can only remark that they shall bear in mind and take into account the advice of the High Powered Committee,” the court said.