The Bombay High Court has asked the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to find out ways in which foreign currencies like Dollar, Euro and Pound make their notes visually challenged friendly. The court has also asked the RBI to find out whether the notes' sizes in foreign currencies change as per denomination.
The court's directions came while it was hearing a petition filed by the National Association for Blind (NAB), that said new notes introduced by the RBI have no identification marks to help visually challenged persons distinguish between the notes. A division bench of Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice NM Jamdar has given the RBI two weeks' time to file an affidavit.
Advocate Uday Warunjkar argued that under the People with Disabilities Act, there are various provisions for safeguarding interests of the disabled. However, coins and notes being used make it difficult for people with poor vision to tell their denomination.
"Over the last 70 years, the practice was that notes' sizes would change in proportion to their denomination. But the new series of notes are all virtually the same size. Moreover, a mark that's placed on the left side of the notes tends to vanish after repeated use," he added.
Senior advocate Venkatesh Dhond opposed the plea, saying every note has marks to identify them. Before the printing, he said, suggestions were called from various bodies that counsel blind persons.
The new Rs 500 note measures 150 mm by 66 mm, while the new Rs 100 note measures 157 mm by 73 mm. Similarly, the Rs 20 (147*63) and Rs 50 notes (147*73) are almost the same size. The plea said suggestions were given last year and it was expected that an appropriate decision would be taken, although nothing has been done to address the issue till date.
Bigger Isn’t Always Better
The new Rs 500 note measures 150 mm by 66 mm, while the new Rs 100 note measures 157 mm by 73 mm. Similarly, the Rs 20 (147*63) and Rs 50 notes (147*73) are almost the same size, making it difficult to distinguish for persons of poor vision.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Currency")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}