Fuel station puts a cap on minimum purchase

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: An Indian oil fuel station at Yeshwantpur, Bengaluru, put up posters that said, “Rs 2000 Rupees note minimum Rs 1000 purchased petrol.”

This comes after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced withdrawal of Rs 2000 notes and asked citizens to either deposit or exchange these notes by 30 September, 2023. The poster at the fuel station said that they will accept Rs 2000 notes only if the customer purchases fuel for a minimum of Rs 1000.

Several establishments have stated that after the RBI announcement, the number of Rs 2000 currency notes that they received has increased. So the fuel stations have implemented the minimum purchase rule. A fuel station attendant said, “Usually I hardly get 5 to 10 notes of Rs 2000, but since the announcement, I am getting over 20 such notes.”

One rider at the fuel station at the Indian oil fuel station at St Mark's Road said, "I believe this move is essential due to the inconvenience caused at fuel stations when customers pay with a Rs 2000 note for smaller amounts such as Rs 200 or Rs 300. It becomes impractical for the fuel station to provide a change of Rs 1800 or Rs 1700 to every customer."

While there is a debate amongst customers about this being ethical or unethical, most people have blamed the government for this sudden implementation that has affected both suppliers and consumers. If a shopkeeper or any business establishment refuses to accept a Rs 2000 note it is illegal and a complaint under the Indian Penal Code Section 188 can be registered. But is it also not essential to keep in mind that it is unreasonable to give a Rs 2000 note for a transaction that is less than Rs 200.