The Centre informed the Madras High Court that the Devanagari script on the new Rs 2000 note is just a “design”.
The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court was hearing a PIL filed by KPT Ganesan, a Madurai resident.
The Centre’s response comes two days after the High Court questioned the government as to under what authority Devanagari numerals are used in the Rs 2000 note.
The petitioner had earlier argued that the usage of Devanagari numerals is against the Indian Constitution, stating that as per Article 343 of the Constitution only international form of Indian numerals can be used for official purpose of the union. Ganesh also informed the court that there was no provision under the Official Languages Act, 1965 to use Devanagari numerals.
As the Centre had printed the notes without passing any law in Parliament, the petitioner argued that the notes be declared invalid.