JUDGMENT

1. The instant writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India has been filed by the Petitioner as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking for a declaration that the RBI Notification dated 19.05.2023 and SBI Notification dated 20.05.2023, which permits exchange of Rs.2000 denomination banknotes without obtaining any requisition slip and identity proof, is arbitrary and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution of India.

2. The Petitioner, who appears in - person, submits that out of total denomination of Rs.2000 banknotes, at present Rs.3.62 lakh crores banknotes are in circulation and are not being commonly used for transactions. He, therefore, submits that these notes are primarily black money. He submits that these notes have been hoarded by the separatists, terrorists, maoists, drug smugglers, mining mafias and corrupt people. The Petitioner contends that at present, the total population of India is around 142 crores and out of which 130 crores people have Aadhar Card which means that every family has 3-4 Aadhar Cards. He submits that out of the total 225 crore of bank accounts, 48 crores bank accounts are Jan Dhan accounts of the people who are bel