RBI directed to keep coins in circulation

Bilaspur, Apr 25 (UNI) The Chhattisgarh High Court has directed the Reserve Bank of India to ensure that coins of 50 paise and 25 paise denomination remained on circulation.

A division bench of Chief Justice Rajiv Gupta and Justice Dhirendra Mishra yesterday issued the directive on a public interest litigation filed by advocate Kailash Rao. The bench also directed that an inquiry be conducted to ascertain attempt to keep the coins out of circulation.

In his petition, Mr Rao pointed out that common man was facing manifold problems as 50 paise and 25 paise coins were not in circulation in states like Chhattisgarh, Karanataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. ''It was against the law not to treat as a legal tender the Government of India currency'', he said.

The petitioner also pointed out that the RBI was not entertaining complaints in this regard. RBI should be directed to ensure proper distribution of coins, he added.

UNI XC-SP 1224