A Calcutta High court Bench comprising Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj while dealing with the PIL seeking direction regarding printing images of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on Indian currency notes sought the response of the Union Government.
Background
The Public Interest Litigation was filed by 94-year old freedom fighter, Haren Bagchi Biswas who via Plea contended as to why Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's picture cannot be printed on currency notes like Mahatma Gandhi's.
The petitioner alleged that the government of India had failed to give due recognition to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's contribution to the freedom struggle.
Order of the Court
Learned Additional Solicitor General prayed to Court for eight weeks time to file the affidavit-in-opposition and accordingly directed the Centre to file a reply to the petition within 8 weeks.
Reference was made to the year 2017 when similar PIL was moved before this Hon'ble Court by Prithwish Dasgupta contending as to photographs in Indian currency notes as to why currency notes in the country cannot have photographs of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose or any other important personality. In this case, also the Court sought a response from the Centre and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
On the same lines, the Madras High Court has ruled that there is no fault in the Central Government and RBI's decision to retain only the image of Mahatma Gandhi and of no other personality in the currency notes.
In a related matter, the Madras High Court in September 2021 had dismissed a plea challenging the Centre's rejection of a representation for printing the image of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose on currency notes after observing that there is no fault in the Central Government and RBI's decision to retain only the image of Mahatma Gandhi and of no other personality in the currency notes.
It was said that,
"This Court is not underestimating the fight and the sacrifice made by Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose and other great leaders for freedom of this Country. There are many known heroes and unsung heroes. If everybody starts making such a claim there will not be an end"
The matter was listed to be heard next on February 21, 2022.
Case Details
Case Title: Haren Bagchi Biswas alias Harendranath Biswas v. Union of India
Bench: Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj
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