"Why print their images without following their principles?" Madras High Court declines plea to print Subhash Chandra Bose image on currency

The Madras High Court recently declined to entertain a plea to print the image of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on Indian currency (KK Ramesh v. Union of India and ors).While dismissing the plea, the Bench of Justices N Kirubakaran and M Duraiswamy also briefly questioned why the images of such great leaders are being printed on currency at all if their principles are not followed. ."What is the use of printing images of Great Leaders, who fought for our Independence without following their principles, in currency notes? Merely because the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi is appearing in the currency, does it mean that the currency is used only for legal purposes. Whether the currency should have the portrait of a particular leader or otherwise is the policy of the government," the Court remarked. .While dismissing the plea, the Court also clarified that it is not underestimating the fight and sacrifice made by Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose and other great leaders for Indian freedom movement. All the same, it further observed that if all such pleas are entertained, there may be no end to the matter. ."There are many known heroes and unsung heroes. If everybody starts making such a claim there will not be an end. Moreover, recent days, there are claims and counter claims based on religion, community and region. If every claim is started to be entertained, there will not be any end", the Court said. .The primary reason for declining to entertain the plea, however, was a decision taken by the Central government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on the issue. A committee had been constituted to examine the proposal after the Madras High Court had asked the authorities to do the same earlier this year. ."His contribution to freedom movement unparalleled:" Madras HC asks Govt to consider request to print image of Subhas Chandra Bose on currency.This committee eventually decided that only Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, could represent the ethos of India. As such, it decided to retain Mahatma Gandhi's image on currency notes and that no other personality's image would be included. The committee report was accepted by the Union Ministry of Finance as well. Therefore, the petitioner's representation on the issue was rejected. .Declining to interfere further on the issue, the High Court went on to rule: ."It is only the Government which can take a decision and this Court cannot substitute the views stated in the Committee report which has been accepted by the Government. Therefore, the impugned order cannot be said to be illegal and therefore, the Writ Petition is dismissed.".The petitioner, KK Ramesh, appeared party in person. Assistant Solicitor General Victoriya Gowri appeared for the Central government authorities. .[Read Order]