Delhi HC asks why coins with Vaishno Devi image issued

The Delhi High Court Wednesday questioned the issuance of Rs.5 denomination coins with the image of Mata Vaishno Devi embossed on the reverse, saying it "may create problem if members of other community raise the issue".

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Pradeep Nandrajog directed the central government and the Reserve of India to file their reply on a plea seeking ban on issuance of coins with religious symbols embossed on them.

The court, posting the matter for Aug 20, granted last opportunity to the Centre and the RBI to file replies.

The PIL was filed by advocate Nafis Qazi against the finance ministry and the RBI and the court was told that secular democratic credentials of governance are damaged when the government issues currency with religious symbols.

It said the government, by bringing out coins at regular intervals with religious symbols such as figures of a deity or temple embossed on them, was indulging in anti-secular actions.

"These symbols undermine the secular character, a basic feature of the constitution," said the advocate appearing for petitioner.

The plea said the government in 2010 and 2013 came out with coins with religious symbols embossed on them, which should be withdrawn.

Earlier, the Centre had told the court that the coins were issued under the Coinage Act to commemorate the occasion of silver jubilee of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.