The Delhi High Court today raised questions on government commemorating religious events by issuing coins having pictures of deities embossed on them and said the State should not do such things.



"We are not saying discriminate against any religion. We are saying don't do it for any religion across the board," a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said and added "is the State entitled to celebrate religious functions? Commemorate means to celebrate only."



The court also sought replies of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain as to whether there are guidelines for issuing such commemorative coins to mark landmark or religious events and directed that the same be placed before it by the next date of hearing, December 3.



The observations were made by the court after the ASG said the coins were issued to commemorate a particular historical or religious event.



The court was hearing a PIL filed by Delhi residents, Nafis Qazi and Abu Sayeed, through lawyer A Rasheed Qureshi, seeking withdrawal of coins having religious symbols embossed on them.



During the proceedings, the ASG submitted that issuing of commemorative coins to mark certain events is an international practice.



"But our country does not do that," the bench responded.



The petition has sought a direction to the RBI and the Finance Ministry to withdraw the coins brought out in 2010 and 2013 with religious symbols on them.



"Direct respondent 1 (Centre) to formulate a national policy whereby figures and symbols of any religion are prohibited from being made on any tangible or intangible property of the Indian State," it has said.



"These symbols undermine the secular character, a basic feature of the Constitution," the plea has said.



The government, in 2010, brought into circulation a five Rupee coin in celebration of 1000 years of Brihadeeswara Temple, Thanjavur, with its image embossed on it.



"Again in 2013, Respondent 2 (RBI) brought out another five rupee coin with the figure of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board embossed on it," it has said.