The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Central and Delhi governments on a PIL seeking to restrict cash transactions on e-commerce websites.
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela did not issue a notice on the matter, but instead directed the government counsel to seek instructions.
During the hearing, the bench asked petitioner and BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay if the Court has the authority to issue mandamus on such an issue.
Upadhyay replied in the affirmative, claiming that such cash transactions are the root of the majority of corruption in the country.
Upadhyay filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition, requesting that the Central and State governments restrict cash transactions on e-commerce websites such as Amazon and Flipkart.
The petition also requests that no cash transactions in excess of Rs 10,000 be permitted to pay electricity, gas, LPG, or CNG bills, or to purchase air or rail tickets.
A prayer has also been made to direct governments to take anti-corruption measures.
It claims that because 80 crore Indians receive free grants, they are classified as living below the poverty line (BPL). As a result, they do not frequently purchase goods and services worth more than Rs10,000.
The petition also claimed that despite India’s low ranking in the World Happiness Index and the Global Peace Index, the Centre and states have not taken steps to combat corruption.
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