Reply to plea on making cash blind-friendly: Bombay HC

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court Chief Justice has asked the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to file its response to a petition filed by the National Association for the Blind (NAB) pointing out difficulties faced by the blind in identifying notes and coins in recent years. The petitioner said that unlike in the past, the currencies and coins issued by the central bank in recent years had no identifying marks thus making it impossible for them to differentiate between the currencies.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice Sonak was hearing the petition filed by Joaquim Rapose, secretary of NAB pointed out that blind persons were facing difficulties in identifying notes and coins of various denominations in recent years as the recent have no differentiating marks anymore.

“Earlier, blind or people with poor vision were easily able to identify coins and notes as there were unique marks on each coin. Some coins were raised/embossed and tactile differentiation was available for recognition of the coins,” the petition said. The petition prayed that the court should direct the RBI to include special features in coins and currency notes so the blind could identify them easily.

Mr Rapose added that he had also written to the RBI pointing out that the smaller denominations being issued in recent years had no difference among them anymore. He said he had sent suggestions regarding the shape of the coins and notes, including those relating to their breadth, thickness and colour combination to the RBI too.