IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH **** 209 CWP-5045-2018 (O&M) Date of Decision: 09.04.2026 JYOTI BHALLA ...Petitioner Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. …Respondents CORAM:- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JAGMOHAN BANSAL Present:- Mr. Dhiraj Chawla, Advocate and Ms. Mehak Sharma, Advocate for the petitioner Ms. Neha Jain, Sr. Panel Counsel for respondent No.1 Mr. Deepak Suri, Advocate for respondent-RBI Mr. Ravi Kamal Gupta, Advocate for respondent-CBI *** JAGMOHAN BANSAL, J. (ORAL) 1. The petitioner through instant petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India is seeking direction to respondent No.2 to change demonetized currency. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that officials of Central Bureau of Investigation sealed her lockers and informed Income Tax Department. The officials of Income Tax Department seized currency lying in her bank account. The Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax-1, Chandigarh vide order dated 17.07.2025 ordered to release seized currency. Pursuant to aforesaid order, Income Tax Officer, Chandigarh vide panchnama dated 30.07.2025 returned seized currency Rs.14,15,000/-. She approached RBI seeking exchange of old currency but to no avail. DEEPAK BISSYAN 2026.04.09 15:25 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document CWP-5045-2018 -2- 3. Learned counsel for the respondent-RBI submits that as per notification dated 12.05.2017 issued by the Ministry of Finance, old currency confiscated or seized by any authority may be exchanged with new currency subject to the condition that details of currency were noted by Law Enforcement Agency or produced before Court. 4. On being asked, learned counsel for the respondent-RBI confirmed that currency in question was seized by Income Tax Department and finally released vide panchnama dated 30.07.2025. As per aforesaid notification, it should be exchanged with new currency. He further submits that RBI would exchange only those currency notes which are mentioned in panchnama dated 30.07.2025. 5. Learned counsel for the petitioner agrees to the aforesaid arrangement. 6. In the wake of statement of both sides, the instant petition stands disposed of with a direction to respondent-RBI to exchange currency notes noticed in panchnama dated 30.07.2025 (Annexure A-1) prepared by Income Tax Officer, Chandigarh. The needful shall be done within four weeks from the date petitioner approaches RBI. 7. Pending application(s), if any, stands disposed of. (JAGMOHAN BANSAL) JUDGE April 09, 2026 Deepak DPA Whether Speaking/reasoned Yes/No Whether Reportable Yes/No DEEPAK BISSYAN 2026.04.09 15:25 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document