HC raises questions on issue of coins with religious symbols

The Delhi High Court today raised questions on government commemorating religious events by issuing coins having pictures of deities embossed on them and said the State should not do such things.
"We are not saying discriminate against any religion. We are saying don't do it for any religion across the board," a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said and added "is the State entitled to celebrate religious functions? Commemorate means to celebrate only."
The court also sought replies of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain as to whether there are guidelines for issuing such commemorative coins to mark landmark or religious events and directed that the same be placed before it by the next date of hearing, December 3.

The observations were made by the court after the ASG said the coins were issued to commemorate a particular historical or religious event.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by Delhi residents, Nafis Qazi and Abu Sayeed, through lawyer A Rasheed Qureshi, seeking withdrawal of coins having religious symbols embossed on them.